Measurement Equivalence Research Of The Delaware School Climate Surveys In Chinese And American Adolescent Samples

Objective:(1)To establish the factor structure baseline model of the Delaware School Climate Surveys in Chinese and American adolescent sample; to assess measurement equivalence of the Delaware School Climate Surveys-Student in Chinese and American adolescent sample.(2)Compare the difference of latent variable mean between Chinese adolescent sample and American adolescent sample in all factors of the Delaware School Climate Surveys-Student, and make comparison with the difference of manifest variable mean.Methods:(1)2193 and 2240 high school students from China and American Chinese were investigated with Delaware School Climate Surveys-Student respectively.(2)Independent sample t-test was made to compare the difference of manifest variable mean; Structural Equation Modeling was made to test configural invariance,weak invariance,strong invariance and strict invariance of Delaware School Climate Surveys-Student between Chinese adolescent sample and American adolescent sample. Compare the difference of latent variable mean between Chinese adolescent sample and American adolescent sample,which was based on strong invariance.Results:(l)Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis of the 8 factors structure of Delaware School Climate Surveys-Student revealed that full configural invariance, full weak invariance but partial strong invariance and partial strict invariance were supported by the date.In the 30 items,measurement intercepts of 6 items were noninvariant,measurement residuals of 3 items were noninvariant.(2)The manifest variable mean comparison showed that Chinese adolescent samples was significantly higher than American adolescent sample in the manifest variable mean of Student–Student Relations,The campus activity participation,School Safety and Fairness of Rules of Delaware School Climate Surveys-Student,however Chinese adolescent samples was significantly lower than American adolescent sample in the manifest variable mean of Respect to Diversity and Campus bullying of Delaware School Climate Surveys-Student(P<0.01).(3)The latent variable mean comparison showed that there was significantly difference between the two samples in partial factors of Delaware School Climate Surveys-Student. Chinese adolescent samples was significantly higher than American adolescent sample in the latent variable mean of Teacher–Student Relations,Clarity of Expectations,and Respect to Diversity of Delaware School Climate Surveys-Student, but Chinese adolescent samples was significantly lower than American adolescent sample in the latent variable mean of the campus activity participation of Delaware School Climate Surveys-Student.(4)There was inconsistency in the comparison of latent variable mean difference and manifest variable mean difference between Chinese adolescent samples and American adolescent samples.Conclusion:(1)Delaware School Climate Surveys-Student revealed that full configural invariance, full weak invariance but partial strong invariance and partial strict invariance between Chinese adolescent sample and American adolescent sample;(2)There was inconsistency in the comparison of latent variable mean difference and manifest variable mean difference,which showed that the mean difference in the observed scores can not be fully explained by the mean difference in the latent variables;(3)It should be cautious when explain the result of difference between different countries population of Delaware School Climate Surveys-Student.