Gregory Research Beliefs Scale: Factor Structure and Internal Consistency

• Published in: Research on social work practice Vol. 20; no. 6; pp. 641 - 650
• Main Author: Gregory, Virgil L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.11.2010; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Classrooms; Confirmatory factor analysis; Cronbach's alpha; Discriminant analysis; Ethics; Evaluation; Evidence; Evidence Based Practice; Experts; Factor Analysis; Factor Structure; Factor structures; Indexes; Internal Consistency; Internet; Intervention; Likert Scales; Measures (Individuals); Medical ethics; Null Hypothesis; Pilot Projects; Pilot studies; Predictive Validity; Psychometric Analysis; Psychometrics; Quantitative psychology; Reliability; Research Applications; Sample Size; Schools; Social Work; Validity; psychometrics; CSWE accreditation; evidence-based social work; scientist practitioner; educational assessment; NASW code of ethics
• ISSN: 1049-7315; 1552-7581
• DOI: 10.1177/1049731509353049

Objective: This study evaluates the factor structure and internal consistency of the Gregory Research Beliefs Scale (GRBS). Method: Data were collected from subject matter experts, a pilot study, an online sample, and a classroom sample. Psychometric analyses were conducted after combining the online and classroom samples. Results: An a priori four-factor model was not supported via confirmatory factor analysis. Principal component analyses were used to reduce the items to a one-factor model with salient structure coefficients, face validity, and a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.93. Discussion and Applications: Future research should evaluate factor invariance and the construct and criterion validity of the GRBS. However, given the limitations of scales that measure similar constructs, the GRBSs brings the social work profession closer to effectively quantifying an internally consistent and homogenous latent variable that may be related to evidence-based practice.