Associate Professor Fang Guangbao of Fujian Normal University, along with his collaborators, has recently published a research paper titled “Testing for Approximate Measurement Invariance of Instructional Quality in the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2018” in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, a prestigious journal under the Nature portfolio. This study provides important insights into the measurement of instructional quality among secondary teachers across 47 countries and economies, using data from the TALIS 2018 teacher survey (N = 127,607).
Key Findings
The study employs two approaches—Multiple Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MGCFA) and alignment optimization—to test the measurement invariance of instructional quality. Key findings include:
1.Consistency in Basic and Structural Levels: Both methods reveal consistency in instructional quality at the basic (configural) and structural (metric) levels.
2.Limitations of Conventional Methods: Full comparability (scalar invariance) is not achieved using the conventional MGCFA method.
3.Advantages of Alignment Optimization: The alignment optimization method demonstrates greater advantages by uncovering comparable distribution patterns in instructional quality across diverse cultural and social contexts.
The research highlights that instructional quality is deeply embedded in cultural and social contexts, and emphasizes the importance of measurement invariance testing as a prerequisite for conducting international comparative research. The findings suggest that alignment optimization offers a more effective approach compared to traditional methods, paving the way for more accurate cross-national comparisons in education.
Journal Significance
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications is the only leading journal in the Nature portfolio dedicated to the humanities and social sciences. With an impact factor of 3.7, it ranks:
•First among 411 journals in the Humanities, Multidisciplinary category (AHCI edition).
•Second among 267 journals in the Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary category (SSCI edition).
This recognition underscores the journal’s reputation as a leader in publishing groundbreaking research in the humanities and social sciences.
Collaborative Effort
Fujian Normal University is the primary and corresponding affiliation for this research, with co-authors from Monash University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The collaboration reflects the global scope and interdisciplinary nature of the study.
Original Publication
The full research paper can be accessed via the following link:
Fang, G. B., Chan, W. K., & Teo, T. Testing for approximate measurement invariance of instructional quality in the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2018. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04870-4
Translated by Yan Xiaoqi / Reviewed by Huang Danqing