Measurement invariance and differential item functioning of the functionality appreciation scale (FAS) in Colombia...

Area of Science:

• Psychometrics
• Cross-cultural psychology

Background:

• The Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS) is widely adopted globally.
• Assessing measurement invariance and differential item functioning (DIF) is crucial for cross-cultural validity.
• Limited research exists on the FAS's psychometric properties across different nations and demographics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the measurement invariance and DIF of the FAS.
• To validate the FAS across Colombian and Spanish adult populations.
• To investigate potential biases related to age, BMI, and gender identity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized archival data from 1420 Colombian and 838 Spanish adults.
• Employed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess scale structure.
• Conducted measurement invariance testing and DIF analyses across national and demographic groups.

Main Results:

• Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a unidimensional structure for the FAS in both countries.
• The FAS demonstrated full measurement invariance (including latent mean invariance) across Colombian and Spanish groups.
• No DIF was detected for age, BMI, or gender identity, indicating consistent item performance.

Conclusions:

• The FAS is a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring functionality appreciation across diverse national contexts (Colombia and Spain).
• The scale exhibits robust measurement invariance and lacks DIF concerning key demographic variables.
• Findings support the FAS's utility in capturing a common underlying construct across varied populations.