Evaluative and Affective Dimensions of Self-Concept: A Test of Construct Validity Using Structural Equations Modeling

It has been suggested that self-concept has both an evaluative and an affective dimension. Measures of self-concept, task satisfaction and performance were obtained from a sample of 188 Northern Irish university students. Using confirmatory factor analysis (LISREL 8), it was shown that, whereas a one-factor model did not fit the self-concept data, a two-factor model in which evaluative items loaded on one factor and affective items on the other, demonstrated a good fit (Incremental Fit Index (IFI) = 0.99). Further, a structural model in which evaluative self-concept was related to performance and affective self-concept was related to task satisfaction also fitted (IFI = 0.99). Thus, both the discriminant and construct validity of affective and evaluative self-concept were demonstrated. This may mean that previous studies have underestimated the magnitude of relationships between self-concept and other variables such as achievement.