On the importance of being clear about the level of analysis of interest

An illustration using the case of self‐compassion

Datos Bibliográficos

ID7160347
AutoresAnabel Büchner (0000-0003-2134-6361, Institute of Psychology Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany, autor de correspondencia), Christina Ewert (0000-0002-2811-0020, Department of Psychology University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany), Cosma F A Hoffmann (0000-0002-9123-0260, Institute of Psychology University of Greifswald Greifswald Germany), Michela Schröder‐abé (0000-0002-1672-0649, Department of Psychology University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany), Kai T Horstmann (0000-0003-3224-1880, Department of Psychology University of Siegen Siegen Germany)
Año2025
Volumen93
Número2
Páginas197-215
Fecha de publicación2025-04-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Personality (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0022-3506 • E-ISSN: 1467-6494
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jopy.12924
PMID38462896
OpenAlexW4392651916
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas102

OBJECTIVE: Theories about within-person (WP) variation are often tested using between-person (BP) research, despite the well-established fact that results may not generalize across levels of analysis. One possible explanation is vague theories that do not specify which level of analysis is of interest. We illustrate such a case using the construct of self-compassion. The factor structure at the BP level has been highly debated, although the theory is actually concerned with relationships at the WP level. METHOD: Multilevel confirmatory factor analysis was applied to experience-sampling data of self-compassion (N = 213, with n = 4052 measurement occasions). RESULTS: At both levels of analysis, evidence for a two-factor model was found. However, the factors were moderately related at the WP level (r = 0.37, p < 0.001) but largely independent at the BP level (r = 0.04, p = 0.696). Exploratory analyses revealed considerable heterogeneity in the WP relationship among individuals. CONCLUSION: We discuss how our results provide new impulses to move the debate around self-compassion forward. Lastly, we outline how the WP level-which is of major interest for self-compassion and other constructs in psychology-can guide the conceptualization and assessment to promote advancements of the theory and resulting applications

Cognitive psychology · Compassion · Conceptualization · Confirmatory factor analysis · Construct (python library) · Developmental psychology · Experience sampling method · Exploratory factor analysis · Multilevel model · Psychometrics · Self-compassion · Statistics · Structural equation modeling · Artificial Intelligence · Clinical Psychology · Computer Science · Mathematics · Mental Health Research Topics · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology