Stability in the Factor Structure of the Modernity Scale: Implications for Factorial Validity

The factorial in variance of the Modernity Scale was investigated by using two samples of students (over two years) from a public university in the Pacific Northwest and two samples of students (over two semesters) from a small, church-affiliated university in the Midwest. Factor analysis consistently yielded a four factor solution, with the first factor demonstrating stability across the two church samples and across universities. However, the remaining factors failed to produce any evidence of factor stability. The lack of stability in three of four factors identified in various analyses casts doubt on the factorial validity of the entire scale.