Non-invariance? An Overstated Problem With Misconceived Causes

Scholars study representative international surveys to understand cross-cultural differences in mentality patterns, which are measured via complex multi-item constructs. Methodologists in this field insist with increasing vigor that detecting non-invariance in how a construct's items associate with each other in different national samples is an infallible sign of encultured in-equivalences in how respondents understand the items. Questioning this claim, we demonstrate that a main source of non-invariance is the arithmetic of closed-ended scales in the presence of sample mean disparity. Since arithmetic principles are culture-unspecific, the non-invariance that these principles enforce in statistical terms is inconclusive of encultured in-equivalences in semantic terms. Because of this inconclusiveness, our evidence reveals furthermore that non-invariance is inconsequential for the cross-cultural functioning of multi-item constructs as concerns their nomological linkages to other variables of interest. We discuss the implications of these insights for measurement validation in cross-cultural settings with large sample mean disparity.

Automated summary

Scholars study international surveys to understand cross-cultural differences, but there are issues with interpreting the non-invariance of construct items in different national samples. In fact, the non-invariance mainly comes from the arithmetic of closed-ended scales and does not imply cultural differences in semantic terms. Therefore, non-invariance does not have a practical impact on the cross-cultural validity of multi-item constructs.