Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34239484›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in psychology2021

Investigating the Dimensionality of Early Numeracy Using the Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Framework.

Christophe Dierendonck, Anne-Françoise de Chambrier, Annick Fagnant, Christophe Luxembourger, Mélanie Tinnes-Vigne, Débora Poncelet

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Article in Frontiers in psychology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

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3citing papers in PubMed
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3 · Its place in the literature

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3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Christophe DierendonckDepartment of Education and Social Work, University of Luxembourg, Esch-Belval, Luxembourg.
Anne-Françoise de ChambrierUniversity of Teacher Education, Vaud, Switzerland.
Annick FagnantEQUALE Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Christophe LuxembourgerLaboratoire 2LPN, University of Lorraine, Nancy, France.
Mélanie Tinnes-VigneDepartment of Education and Social Work, University of Luxembourg, Esch-Belval, Luxembourg.
Débora PonceletDepartment of Education and Social Work, University of Luxembourg, Esch-Belval, Luxembourg.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The few studies that have analyzed the factorial structure of early number skills have mainly used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and have yielded inconsistent results, since early numeracy is considered to be unidimensional, multidimensional or even underpinned by a general factor. Recently, the bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling (bifactor-ESEM)-which has been proposed as a way to overcome the shortcomings of both the CFA and the exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM)-proved to be valuable to account for the multidimensionality and the hierarchical nature of several psychological constructs. The present study is the first to investigate the dimensionality of early number skills measurement through the application of the bifactor-ESEM framework. Using data from 644 prekindergarten and kindergarten children (4 to 6 years old), several competing models were contrasted: the one-factor CFA model; the independent cluster model (ICM-CFA); the exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM); and their bifactor counterpart (bifactor-CFA and bifactor-ESEM, respectively). Results indicated acceptable fit indexes for the one-factor CFA and the ICM-CFA models and excellent fit for the others. Among these, the bifactor-ESEM with one general factor and three specific factors (Counting, Relations, Arithmetic) not only showed the best model fit, but also the best coherent factor loadings structure and full measurement invariance across gender. The bifactor-ESEM appears relevant to help disentangle and account for general and specific factors of early numerical ability. While early numerical ability appears to be mainly underpinned by a general factor whose exact nature still has to be determined, this study highlights that specific latent dimensions with substantive value also exist. Identifying these specific facets is important in order to increase quality of early numerical ability measurement, predictive validity, and for practical implications.

Indexed as

bifactor modelconfirmatory factor analysisearly number skillsearly numeracyESEMexploratory structural equation modelingkindergartenstructure

Identifiers

PMID34239484
PMCPMC8258407

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