Assessing The Factor Structure Invariance Of Self-Concept Measurement Across Ethnic And Gender Groups: Findings From A National Sample

This study investigated the degree of factor structure invariance of self-concept measurement across ethnic and gender groups. The National Educational Longitudinal Survey of 1988 (NELS: 88) data were used for the investigation. The factor pattern coefficients and factor variances/covariances were found to be statistically not invariant across either ethnic or gender groups. The concern about the effect of the large sample size on the statistical significance test results led to the authors’ examination of descriptive model fit indices that suggested that it would be reasonable to consider the factor pattern coefficients and factor variances and covariances as invariant across ethnic and gender groups.