Psychometric Properties of the Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale in Algeria

Abstract

The Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale is a tool utilized to assess the effectiveness of a family as a functioning system. The scale has a single-factor structure with good validity and reliability. However, there is a shortage of psychometric evidence of the scale in an Arab context. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale among Algerian students. A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit 300 students from Algerian universities. The students completed the 20-item Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale, Arabic version, to measure their beliefs regarding collective efficacy within families. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the Rasch model were employed to assess the psychometric properties and unidimensionality of the scale. Both CFA and Rasch findings supported the single-factor structure for the Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale. Specifically, the CFA indicated that the data aligned with a one-dimensional model. The Rasch analysis revealed favorable indicators of unidimensionality for the scale. Moreover, a thorough examination of the Principal Component Analysis of the Rasch residuals confirmed the existence of a single dimension, which is consistent with the original structure of the Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale. These findings provide scientific evidence for the validity and unidimensional nature of the Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale. Specifically, the satisfactory psychometric properties findings indicate that the Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale could be applied in an Arab context (i.e., in Algerian). The scale's unidimensional structure underscores its effectiveness in measuring beliefs in collective efficacy within families. These results enhance our understanding of family dynamics and provide a reliable measurement tool for assessing family efficacy in similar cultural contexts.

Keywords: Rasch model; collective efficacy; factor analysis; family; psychological theory; scales; self-efficacy.

Figure 1

Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale in its final form after modification through confirmatory factor analysis.

Figure 2

Grading the difficulty of items and assessing individuals’ abilities based on the distribution map.

Figure 3

Empirical Item Characteristic Curves (ICCs) of the Perceived Collective Family Efficacy Scale. Note: The red line represents the item characteristic curve, as predicted by the Rasch model. It shows the average score that students at different levels of the latent variable (x-axis) would obtain on the item (y-axis) according to the Rasch model. The blue line depicts the empirical ICC. Each “x” on the x-axis summarizes the responses of students whose measurements are near that particular point. The green-gray lines represent the two-sided 95% confidence bands.

Figure 4

Measure relative to item difficulty: five categories. Note: The horizontal axis shows the measured variable, while the vertical axis displays the probability of choosing a category between 1 and 5. Each curve represents responses on a five-point Likert scale, with ’Never’ represented in red, ’Rarely’ in blue, ’Sometimes’ in pink, ’Often’ in gray, and ’Very often’ in green.