The Factorial Invariance of the Nurses' Observation Scale for Evaluation of Inpatients

Abstract

The stability of the factor pattern of the NOSIE across 3 psychiatric center populations ( N = 3,027) was investigated. The 5 significant factors that emerged from the principal factor analyses were tested for invariance using the coefficient of congruence, root mean square, zero-order correlation, and the similarity index. The convergence of all the measures indicated that the Irritability, Personal Neatness, Social Interest, Social Competence, and Manifest Psychosis factors were remarkably stable across the 3 settings. The psychometric and clinical implications of the results are discussed.