Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Multitrait-Multimethod Self-concept Data: Between-group and Within-group Invariance Constraints

Extensions of the confirmatory factor analysis approach to multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) data and to evaluate self-other agreement on multiple dimensions of self-concept offer one practical remedy to problems of ill-defined solutions that have plagued the CFA approach to MTMM data.

Abstract

The purposes of the present investigation are to demonstrate extensions of the confirmatory factor analysis approach (CFA) to multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) data and to evaluate self-other agreement on multiple dimensions of self-concept. Two studies evaluated the ability of significant others to infer multiple dimensions of self-concept of university students in Australia (n = 151) and in Canada (n = 941). In both studies self-other agreement on the 13 Self Description Questionnaire 111 (SDQIII) factors was higher than reported in previous research. Traditional and CFA approaches to MTMM data demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity. An extension of the CFA-MTMM approach examined within-group invariance of responses by self and others and between group invariance across Australian and Canadian responses. Between-group invariance tests support the total invariance of CFA-MTMM solutions across Australian and Canadian responses. The imposition of invariance constraints produced substantially more parsimonious models and apparently offers one practical remedy to problems of ill-defined solutions that have plagued the CFA approach to MTMM data.