Course overview

This training introduces counselor educators, supervisors, and researchers to the concept and practice of measurement invariance (MI) as a tool for ensuring fairness and validity in psychological assessment across diverse populations. This session explains why MI matters in counseling research, presents key terminology, outlines the step-by-step testing process, and shares real-world applications through case studies. Participants will learn how to apply MI to enhance the rigor and equity of their own research, particularly in multicultural and cross-cultural contexts.

 

Course curriculum

    1. Measurement Invariance Testing in Counselor Education and Supervision: Unpacking Validity Across Cultures and Contexts

    2. Webinar Quiz

    3. Webinar Evaluation

About this course

  • Free
  • Certificate Available
  • NBCC 1.0 CE Hours

Ching-Chen Chen, Ed.D.

Associate Professor

Dr. Ching-Chen Chen is an Associate Professor in Counselor Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She grew up and worked as a licensed elementary school teacher and school counselor in Taiwan. As an international counselor educator, she has supervised American and Asian counselor trainees for over 15 years. She also works with very diverse populations, including Black Americans, Latinx, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, Asians, and international students. Her research is interdisciplinary and spans a variety of topics, including cross-cultural measurement and evaluation, parent-child relationships, substance abuse counseling, multicultural counseling, mind-body connection, and developmental psychology. Dr. Chen has a strong background in advanced quantitative methods, including structural equation modeling (SEM), multi-group confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance, and item response theory (IRT). The unique nature of her work lies in developing cross-cultural validity for different psychological measures and assessments across racially and ethnically diverse populations. She has received international, national, and regional awards. She is the current President of the ACA Division, the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC).

Daniel Decino, Ph.D. LPC, NBCC

Dr. Daniel A. DeCino is an Associate Professor in the Division of Counseling Programs at the University of South Dakota. Dr. DeCino has an extensive background in qualitative and quantitative research including use of Narrative Inquiry, multiple strands of Phenomenology, Content Analysis, instrument development and validation, along topics such as Gatekeeping, School Counseling, Counselor Education and Supervision, and improving qualitative rigor and study design. The impetus of his work is to understand experiences of different groups to improve best practices and training protocols, give voice to those underrepresented, and facilitate meaningful dialogue for change. Dr. DeCino is currently Co-Chair of the ACES Research Committee.