Factor Structure and Invariance of an Adolescent Risks and Needs Assessment

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Forensic Psychology

Background:

• High truancy and dropout rates present significant challenges for high schools and juvenile courts.
• A reliable screening instrument is needed to identify at-risk youth and inform interventions.
• The Washington Assessment of Risks and Needs of Students (WARNS) was developed to address these needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the psychometric properties of the WARNS instrument.
• To assess the fit and measurement invariance of a bifactor model of the WARNS across demographic groups.
• To evaluate the reliability of the WARNS for guiding decision-making.

Main Methods:

• A bifactor model was tested using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis.
• The sample comprised 937 court-petitioned high school students aged 13-17.
• Invariance was examined across groups defined by sex and race/ethnicity.

Main Results:

• The bifactor structure of the WARNS demonstrated essential invariance across sex and race/ethnicity groups.
• Reliability analyses supported the use of the general factor for broad risk assessment.
• Scores from the six specific factors provided detailed insights into particular risk and need areas.

Conclusions:

• The WARNS is a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing youth risks related to school outcomes.
• The instrument's invariant structure supports its equitable application across diverse student populations.
• The WARNS can inform targeted interventions for youth facing truancy and school failure.