Structural Equation Modeling with Mplus

chapter 10

Testing Evidenceof Construct Validity

The Multitrait—Multimethod Model

The application illustrated in this chapter uses confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) procedures to test hypotheses bearing on construct validity. Specifically, hypotheses are tested within the framework of a multitrait—multimethod (MTMM) design by which multiple traits are measured by multiple methods. Following from the seminal work of Campbell and Fiske (1959), construct validity research typically focuses on the extent to which data exhibit evidence of (a) convergent validity, the extent to which different assessment methods concur in their measurement of the same trait (i.e., construct; ideally, these values should be moderately high); (b) discriminant validity, ...