Subjective Well-Being, Critical Race Theory, and the Assessment of Measurement Invariance Across Racial Groups

Citation

Curtis, Christopher A.; Hurley, Landon; & Farmer, G. Lawrence (2021). Subjective Well-Being, Critical Race Theory, and the Assessment of Measurement Invariance Across Racial Groups. American Journal of Evaluation. vol. 42 (3) pp. 314-331

Abstract

The present study explores how Black and White youth respond to measures of subjective well-being within the context of critical race theory (CRT). Three levels of measurement invariance (i.e., configural, metric and scalar) were examined for indicators of subjective well-being. We hypothesized that there would be limited measurement invariance across groups based on the premise established by CRT that youth of color experience and perceive life differently than their White peers, which was supported. The findings of this study demonstrate that the measures work as expected within groups, but there is a considerable lack of invariance across groups. This study also provides some evidence that racial/ethnic differences cannot be taken for granted when assessing SWB in youth.  

URL

https://doi.org/10.1177/1098214020921954

Keyword(s)

critical race theory

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

American Journal of Evaluation

Author(s)

Curtis, Christopher A.
Hurley, Landon
Farmer, G. Lawrence

Year Published

2021

Volume Number

42

Issue Number

3

Pages

314-331

ISSN/ISBN

1098-2140

DOI

10.1177/1098214020921954

Reference ID

9440