Course Overview

A rigorously applied workshop on end-to-end scale construction for social and behavioral research—covering construct conceptualization, item generation, content validity, pilot design, EFA/CFA, reliability, validity, measurement invariance, and reporting standards. Emphasis is placed on reflective vs. formative models, factor retention logic, and best-practice documentation to ensure publishable instruments aligned with top-tier journal expectations.

Learning Outcomes

• Differentiate reflective vs. formative measurement models and select appropriate model specifications for constructs.
• Translate theory to measurable constructs: domain specification, construct map, item pool creation, and expert/content validity assessment (CVR/CVI, cognitive interviews).
• Design pilot studies and assess data factorability using KMO, Bartlett’s test, correlation structures, and item diagnostics.
• Conduct Exploratory Factor Analysis: extraction methods, rotation choices, parallel analysis/scree decisions, and item refinement.
• Perform Confirmatory Factor Analysis: model specification, fit indices, modification diagnostics, and higher-order/hierarchical models.
• Establish reliability: internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha, omega), composite reliability, test–retest, and inter-rater as applicable.
• Establish validity: convergent (AVE), discriminant (HTMT/CF), criterion-related, known-groups, and nomological networks.
• Test measurement invariance across groups/time (configural, metric, scalar), differential item functioning, and fairness checks.
• Execute scale refinement and short-form creation while preserving psychometric integrity and interpretability.
• Document and report scales per journal-ready checklists: item wording, scoring rules, norms, error sources, and transparent limitations.

Tools & Resources

• Core statistics/SEM: IBM SPSS, AMOS, R (psych, lavaan, semTools), jamovi/JASP.
• PLS-SEM and variance-based: SmartPLS (for formative/composite models where appropriate).
• Survey and content validity: Qualtrics/Google Forms; expert review templates for CVR/CVI and cognitive interviews.