Title
Factor analyses of the family assessment device
Abstract
The Family Assessment Device (FAD) operationalizes the McMaster Model of Family Functioning, which has been used in numerous studies, translated into seven languages, and is regarded as one of the most researched family assessment tools available. However, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using the 7-by-7 matrix of subscale correlations from the original validity study on the FAD (Epstein, Baldwin, & Bishop, 1983) indicated that the FAD subscales overlap substantially and do not assess unique dimensions of family functioning. Results of our study suggest that the conservatively best use of the FAD is using the General Functioning subscale as a summary score. A model that fits the data marginally better than the General Functioning score and a Measurement Error model, however, consisted of "Collaboration" and "Commitment" latent factors. These results illustrated the need for more extensive validity research on the FAD, because interpretation of the factors and subscales had to rely heavily on face validity.
Department(s)
School of Social Work
Document Type
Article
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.1999.00497.x
Publication Date
12-1-1999
Recommended Citation
Ridenour, Ty A., James Daley, and Wendy Reich. "Factor analyses of the family assessment device." Family process 38, no. 4 (1999): 497-510.
Journal Title
Family Process
