A longitudinal multilevel CFA-MTMM model for interchangeable and structurally different methods

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One of the key interests in the social sciences is the investigation of change and stability of a given attribute. Although numerous models have been proposed in the past for analyzing longitudinal data including multilevel and/or latent variable modeling approaches, only few modeling approaches have been developed for studying the construct validity in longitudinal multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) measurement designs. The aim of the present study was to extend the spectrum of current longitudinal modeling approaches for MTMM analysis. Specifically, a new longitudinal multilevel CFA-MTMM model for measurement designs with structurally different and interchangeable methods (called Latent-State-Combination-Of-Methods model, LS-COM) is presented. Interchangeable methods are methods that are randomly sampled from a set of equivalent methods (e.g., multiple student ratings for teaching quality), whereas structurally different methods are methods that cannot be easily replaced by one another (e.g., teacher, self-ratings, principle ratings). Results of a simulation study indicate that the parameters and standard errors in the LS-COM model are well recovered even in conditions with only five observations per estimated model parameter. The advantages and limitations of the LS-COM model relative to other longitudinal MTMM modeling approaches are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number311
JournalFrontiers in Psychology
Volume5
Number of pages19
ISSN1664-1078
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17.04.2014
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Sociology
  • multilevel structural equation modeling, longitudinal modeling, MTMM modeling, multirater data, rater bias, method effects, simulation study

DOI