Abstract
This study explores the dimensionality of individualism and collectivism constructs and provides evidence of validity for the Auckland Individualism–Collectivism Scale (AICS) on two separate samples from Hong Kong and Ghana. This study verified the dimensional structures of the AICS and tested the measurement invariance across ages and genders of undergraduate students in Hong Kong (N = 210) and Ghana (N = 187). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three dimensions on the individualism construct (competition, uniqueness, and responsibilities) and the two dimensions on the collectivism construct (advice and harmony). The path analysis showed consistency with the original scale and verified the validity of the measurement scale to the Hong Kong and Ghanaian cultural contexts. The overall five-factor model and two high-order factors showed good fit in the two samples. The results of metric invariance and scalar invariance across ages and genders are also reported. The findings provide additional support to the construct validity of the AICS for further use.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arbuckle, J. L. (2012). IBM SPSS AMOS (Version 21.0)[Computer Program]. Chicago, IL: IBM Corp.
Bernardo, A. B. I., Lising, R. L. S., & Shulruf, B. (2013). Validity of two language versions of the Auckland Individualism and Collectivism Scale with Filipino-English bilinguals. Psychological Studies, 58(1), 33–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-012-0172-8.
Bond, M. H. (1988). Finding universal dimensions of individual variation in multicultural studies of values: The Rokeach and Chinese value surveys. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55(6), 1009–1015. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.55.6.1009.
Eaton, L., & Louw, J. (2000). Culture and self in South Africa: Individualism–collectivism predictions. The Journal of Socia, 140(2), 210–217.
Gelfand, M. J., Raver, J. L., Nishii, L., Leslie, L. M., Lun, J., Lim, B. C., Yamaguchi, S. (2011). Differences between tight and loose cultures: A 33-nation study. Science, 332(6033), 1100–1104. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1197754.
Gire, J. T. (1997). The varying effect of individualism–collectivism on preference for methods of conflict resolution. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 29(1), 38–43. https://doi.org/10.1037/0008-400X.29.1.38.
Heine, S. J., Lehman, D. R., Peng, K., & Greenholtz, J. (2002). What’s wrong with cross-cultural comparisons of subjective Likert scales?: The reference-group effect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(6), 903–918. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.82.6.903.
Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture’s consequences: International differences in work-related values. Berverly Hills, CA.: Sage Publications.
Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis : Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118.
Hui, C. H. (1988). Measurement of individualism–collectivism. Journal of Research on Personality, 22, 17. https://doi.org/10.1016/0092-6566(88)90022-0.
Kiliç, B., & Kamaşak, R. (2009). Factor pattern of Auckland individualism–collectivism questionnaire: A study of Turkish sample. ISGUC The Journal of Industrial Relations and Human Resources, 11(5), 25–34. https://doi.org/10.4026/1303-2860.2009.0123.x.
MacCallum, R. C., Browne, M. W., & Sugawara, H. M. (1996). Power analysis and determination of sample size for covariance structure modeling. Psychological Methods, 1(2), 130–149. https://doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.1.2.130.
Meredith, W., & Teresi, J. A. (2006). An essay on measurement and factorial invariance. Medical Care, 44(11), S69–S77. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mlr.0000245438.73837.89.
Oyserman, D., Coon, H. M., & Kemmelmeier, M. (2002). Rethinking individualism and collectivism: Evaluation of theoretical assumptions and meta-analyses. Psychological Bulletin, 128(1), 3–72. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.128.1.3.
Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J.-Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879–903. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879.
Sass, D. A. (2011). Testing measurement invariance and comparing latent factor means within a confirmatory factor analysis framework. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 29(4), 347–363. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282911406661.
Shulruf, B., Alesi, M., Ciochină, L., Faria, L., Hattie, J., Hong, F., Pepi, A., & Watkins, D. (2011). Measuring collectivism and individualism in the third millennium. Social Behavior and Personality, 39(2), 173–187. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2011.39.2.173.
Shulruf, B., Hattie, J., & Dixon, R. (2007). Development of a new measurement tool for individualism and collectivism. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 25(4), 385–401. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282906298992.
Shulruf, B., Hattie, J., & Dixon, R. (2011). Intertwinement of individualist and collectivist attributes and response sets. Journal of Social, Evolutionary, and Cultural Psychology, 5(1), 51–65. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0099275.
Singelis, T. M. (1994). The measurement of independent and interdependent self-construals. Personality and Social Psychology, 20(5), 580–591.
Singelis, T. M., Triandis, H. C., Bhawuk, D. P. S., & Gelfand, M. J. (1995). Horizontal and vertical dimensions of individualism and collectivism: A theoretical and measurement refinement. Cross-Cultural Research, 29(3), 240–275. https://doi.org/10.1177/106939719502900302.
Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Triandis, H. C. (1989). The self and social behavior in differing cultural contexts. Psychological Review, 96(3), 506–520. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.96.3.506.
Triandis, H. C. (2001). Individualism–collectivism and personality. Journal of Personality. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6494.696169.
Triandis, H. C., Chan, D. K.-S., Bhawuk, D. P. S., Iwao, S., & Sinha, J. B. P. (1995). Multimethod probes of allocentrism and idiocentrism. International Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207599508246580.
Triandis, H. C., Chen, P. X., & Chan, D. K.-S. (1998). Scenarios for the measurement of collectivism and individualism. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 29(2), 275–289.
Triandis, H. C., & Gelfand, M. J. (1998). Converging measurement of horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(1), 118–128. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.1.118.
Triandis, H. C., Mccusker, C., & Hui, C. H. (1990). Multimethod probes of individualism and collectivism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59(5), 1006–1020.
Watkins, D. A., Hui, E. K., Luo, W., Regmi, M., Worthington Jr, E. L., Hook, J. N., & Davis, D. E. (2011). Forgiveness and interpersonal relationships: A Nepalese investigation. The Journal of Social Psychology, 151(2), 150–161. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224540903368541.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Affum-Osei, E., Aboagye, M.O., Antwi, C.O. et al. Validating the Auckland Individualism–Collectivism Scale (AICS): Testing Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance in Hong Kong and Ghanaian Samples. Psychol Stud 64, 187–199 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-019-00494-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-019-00494-2