Quantum mechanics

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Cognitive psychology

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Statistics

Materials science

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Electron microscope

Psychometrics

Structural equation modeling

Physics

Construct validity

Psychology

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Scanning electron microscope

Machine learning

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Research Methods in Applied Linguistics

The present study aims to introduce the advancement of the exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and bifactor ESEM for construct validation purposes in second language research. It does so by applying the methods to the Basic Psychological Needs in Second Language (BPN-L2) Scale (Alamer, 2021a) to assess its factorial validity from a novel perspective. Bifactor ESEM is useful in situations where the theory postulates two layers of constructs (global and specific constructs). A comparison was made between four CFA and ESEM models, and the bifactor ESEM was the model of choice because it provided sufficient details about the multidimensionality of the BPN-L2 scale which accounted for the specific constructs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and the general construct (i.e., the basic psychological needs) and allowed for the assessment of convergent, discriminant, and predictive (criterion) validity from a new perspective. Predictive (criterion-related) validity was assessed using the structural bifactor ESEM by showing that the specific factors explained autonomous motivation differently compared to the global BPN factor, thus confirming the presence of imbalance at the specific factors level. The study provided guidelines in applying bifactor ESEM and presented an applied example with the syntax required to run the models in Mplus. The findings showed that the BPN-L2 scale is reliable and valid through the bifactor ESEM solution and that CFA solutions failed to support the measurement model.

Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and bifactor ESEM for construct validation purposes: Guidelines and applied example