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an examination of the factor structure of the psychopathy checklist

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from <strong>the</strong> original dataset. In o<strong>the</strong>r words, <strong>the</strong> original sample serves as <strong>the</strong> population<br />

for <strong>the</strong> purposes <strong>of</strong> bootstrap sampling. CFA <strong>an</strong>d SEM <strong>an</strong>alyses were reconducted<br />

using <strong>the</strong> bootstrapped dataset.<br />

3.4.1.1 PCL:YV Factor Structure. To determine which <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> three primary <strong>factor</strong><br />

models was <strong>the</strong> most appropriate model for use with female youth violent <strong>of</strong>fenders,<br />

bootstrapping for model comparison was employed. The Linhart <strong>an</strong>d Zucchini (1986)<br />

bootstrap approach for model selection was used which is summarized as follows: (1)<br />

generate several bootstrap samples by sampling with replacement from <strong>the</strong> original<br />

sample, (2) fit every competing model to every bootstrap sample. After each <strong>an</strong>alysis,<br />

calculate <strong>the</strong> discrep<strong>an</strong>cy between implied moments obtained from <strong>the</strong> bootstrap<br />

sample <strong>an</strong>d <strong>the</strong> moments <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bootstrap population, (3) calculate <strong>the</strong> average (across<br />

bootstrap samples) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> discrep<strong>an</strong>cies for each model from <strong>the</strong> previous step, (4)<br />

choose <strong>the</strong> model whose average discrep<strong>an</strong>cy is smallest. Table 3 provides <strong>the</strong> me<strong>an</strong><br />

discrep<strong>an</strong>cies for each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> three models tested. Results obtained confirmed that <strong>the</strong><br />

three-<strong>factor</strong> model is <strong>the</strong> best model which is consistent with <strong>the</strong> results obtained using<br />

<strong>the</strong> GLS estimator.<br />

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