Examining the Psychometric Properties and Factor Structure of EASE

TL;DR

This paper examines the EASE tool's psychometric properties and structure to improve its use in design planning and comparative research.

Contribution

The study identifies a refined factor structure for the EASE tool using parallel analysis and item discrimination.

Findings

The EASE instrument has strong construct validity (r = 0.88) and interrater agreement (r = 0.97).

Parallel analysis identified 12 components in the 130-item EASE tool.

The tool discriminates between traditional, household, and hybrid living area models.

Abstract

Initial information about psychometric properties of EASE subscales as well as for the overall instrument will be discussed. Development of the tool has included initial determination of face-validity, followed by establishing construct validity (r = 0.88 with EAT tool), and interrater agreement (r = 0.97). With the administration of the EASE tool in 228 living areas (e.g., units), parallel analysis was used to investigate the structure of the 130 item EASE instrument. 12 components were initially identified, and several additional component analyses were examined to determine the most efficient structure. Results describe the structure of the EASE instrument with regard to living area characteristics, particularly focusing on items that discriminate between different models (traditional, household and hybrid). Recognition of the dual purposes of the EASE tool as both a design planning resource and as a tool for comparative research across multiple settings, different potential structures will be discussed.