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Complementary variable- and person-centered approaches to the dimensionality of psychometric constructs: application to psychological wellbeing at work
Morin, Alexandre Boudrias, J. S. Marsh, Herb McInerney, Dennis Dagenais-Desmarais, Véronique Madore, Isabelle Litalien, David
Morin, Alexandre
Boudrias, J. S.
Marsh, Herb
McInerney, Dennis
Dagenais-Desmarais, Véronique
Madore, Isabelle
Litalien, David
Abstract
Purpose
This study illustrates complementary variable- and person-centered approaches allowing for a more complete investigation of the dimensionality of psychometric constructs. Psychometric measures often assess conceptually related facets of global overarching constructs based on the implicit or explicit assumption that these overarching constructs exist as global entities including conceptually related specificities mapped by the facets. Proper variable- and person-centered methodologies are required to adequately reflect the dimensionality of these constructs.
Design/Methodology/Approach
We illustrate these approaches using employees’ (N = 1077) ratings of their psychological wellbeing at work.
Findings
The results supported the added value of the variable-centered approach proposed here, showing that employees’ ratings of their own wellbeing simultaneously reflect a global overarching wellbeing construct, together with a variety of specific wellbeing dimensions. Similarly, the results show that anchoring person-centered analyses into these variable-centered results helps to achieve a more precise depiction of employees’ wellbeing profiles.
Implications
The variable-centered bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) framework provides a way to fully explore these sources of psychometric multidimensionality. Similarly, whenever constructs are characterized by the co-existence of overarching constructs with specific dimensions, it becomes important to properly disaggregate these two components in person-centered analyses. In this context, person-centered analyses need to be clearly anchored in the results of preliminary variable-centered analyses.
Originality/Value
Substantively, this study proposes an improved representation of employees’ wellbeing at work. Methodologically, this study aims to pedagogically illustrate the application of recent methodological innovations to organizational researchers.
Keywords
variable-centered, person-centered, ESEM, bifactor, latent profiles, factor mixture, dimensionality, wellbeing
Date
2017
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Business and Psychology
Book
Volume
32
Issue
4
Page Range
395-419
Article Number
ACU Department
Institute for Positive Psychology and Education
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as green open access
License
File Access
Open
Controlled
Controlled