Developing a mobile SNS addiction scale utilizing factor analysis and the Rasch model
ISSN: 1468-4527
Article publication date: 29 August 2019
Issue publication date: 22 November 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a mobile social networking service (SNS) addiction scale to measure respondents’ addiction levels.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the existing literature on the components model of addiction by Griffiths (2005) and mobile SNS addiction, an initial scale in a five-point Likert-format was developed. It was refined through the pilot study with 100 participants and the main study with 423 participants utilizing factor analysis and Rasch analysis.
Findings
Mobile SNS addiction as a behavioral addiction, demonstrated six addiction symptoms: modification, salience, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict and relapse, which were interrelated with each other. The mobile SNS addiction scale developed in this study was found to be psychometrically robust and unidimensional.
Practical implications
The mobile SNS addiction scale consists of nine items, thus making it easier and more convenient to be applied to academic research and clinical practice.
Originality/value
The combined use of factor analysis and the Rasch model could largely reduce potential negative effects associated with limitations of classical test theory and improve the chance of developing a psychometrically robust instrument. The mobile SNS addiction scale covers a range of types of SNSs, thus being more generic. The items in the scale are unidimensionally loaded on the latent construct of mobile SNS addiction and demonstrate measurement invariance across respondents of different demographics.
Keywords
Citation
Wang, X. (2019), "Developing a mobile SNS addiction scale utilizing factor analysis and the Rasch model", Online Information Review, Vol. 43 No. 7, pp. 1284-1301. https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-10-2018-0300
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited