An integrated approach for assessing reliability and validity: an application of structural equation modeling to the measurement of religiosity

The reliability and factor structure of a new self-report scale of religiou s behaviour and an existing measure of religious attitude, the Francis Scal e of Attitude toward Christianity (short form), were assessed using a gener al structural equation model. This extends the previously reported findings of Lewis, Shevlin, Lloyd and Adamson (1998). The Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity (short scale): Exploratory and confirmatory factor ana lysis among English students. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 1 3, 167-175. A factor analytic model was specified and estimated using LISRE L8 in order to examine the psychometric properties of each scale. This mode l integrates internal and cross-structure analysis and allows for the estim ation of reliability and validity. In addition, to provide a comparative ov erview of the methods used, both the results of the exploratory factor anal ysis and Cronbach's alpha, together with the estimates derived from the int egrated approach are presented, The results indicate acceptable levels of r eliability and construct validity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.