Title: Evaluating the Validity of Racial/Ethnic Group Comparisons: Measurement Invariance of Common Family, Culture, and Psychopathology Scales

Investigator: Charlie Su, B.A.

University: University of North Texas

Abstract: Psychopathology research and clinical practice rely upon precise measurement. Many psychological scales have, historically, been developed and validated in the US for use with White Americans but are administered to people of color. Diagnostic biases and serious negative treatment implications become prominent when clinicians assume psychometric equivalence across racial/ethnic groups (i.e., scales assess the same underlying constructs of interest and scores can be compared meaningfully). Measurement invariance introduces a statistical approach to evaluate these unsubstantiated assumptions. The current study investigates the relations between family, culture, and psychopathology, with particular focus on evaluating measurement invariance for commonly-used scales across racial/ethnic groups.