Psychometric scale validation and structural equation modeling

• Grant number: 11/02433-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: August 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Fundamentals and Assessments in Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini Campos
• Grantee: Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini Campos
• Visiting researcher: Joao Maroco
• Visiting researcher institution: Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada (ISPA), Portugal
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In many phenomena of the social sciences, humanities and health sciences, one cannot observe or measure certain variables - so-called latent variables - and only the manifestation of these variables are observable. The measurement of these variables involves measuring instruments that are not easily calibrated due to the absence of a calibration standard and universal consensus. It is thus necessary to use statistical analysis techniques that allow the estimation of the sensitivity, validity and reliability of the data collected with instruments that assess latent variables. These techniques include multivariate statistical analysis and structural equation modeling. During his visit, Prof. João Maroco, ISPA-IU (Portugal) will work on issues regarding the validation of different scales that are the subject of ongoing research projects at the Araraquara's Faculty of Dentistry UNESP funded by FAPESP and other institutions. Prof. Maroco will also teach a 15h course on Structural Equation Modeling at UNIFESP for teachers from different academic units as well as a seminar on "How to measure and evaluate the quality of latent variables" in the Biosciences Institute of Botucatu - UNESP. Additionally, this visit will produce a new joint research project "Portugal-Brazil which will be submitted to FAPESP. (AU)