Testing measurement invariance of the learning programme management and evaluation (LPME) scale across gender using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test measurement invariance of the LPME scale across gender using multi-group CFA. The LPME scale was developed to measure the effectiveness of management and evaluation practices pertaining to occupational learning programmes in the South African skills development context. A non-experimental cross-sectional survey was conducted with 389 human resource practitioners and apprentices/learners. The results indicate that the LPME scale is invariant between males and females at the levels of configural, metric and strong invariance. The number of factors/constructs, pattern of item factor loading, latent constructs variances and covariances, and the reliability of the LPME scale and its dimensions are equivalent between males and females.