Exploring the underlying factor structure of the home literacy environment (HLE) in the English and Spanish versions of the Familia Inventory: A cautionary tale

Few research-based measures of the family literacy environment are commercially available, especially in Spanish. One exception is the Familia Inventory (Taylor, 1995). The present study investigated the 10 subscales of this instrument and the factor structure they imply, using data from a low-socioeconomic (SES), largely Hispanic population. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the structure of the instrument as well as whether it is invariant across English and Spanish language versions. The scale was administered to 232 parents of preschoolers. Results of the CFA revealed that the a priori dimensions of the Familia Inventory were not supported for this sample. Follow-up analyses suggested poor fit both within and between subscales. The scale fit poorly within both English and Spanish, precluding testing of invariance across language. Supplemental analyses using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a subset of the items that had adequate variance suggested that a four-factor solution accounting for 53% of the variance best represented the English data and that a two-factor solution accounting for 43% of the variance best represented the Spanish data. Implications are discussed.

Research highlights▶ Confirmatory factor analysis of 10 subscales of Familia Inventory of home literacy environment (HLE) shows poor fit for English and Spanish versions. ▶ Supplementary exploratory factor analyses suggest four- and two factors for English and Spanish, respectively, different factor structures imply possible translation problems. ▶ Dominant factor in both English and Spanish is shared reading and related literacy activities in the home. ▶ Theories of home literacy need to recognize linguistic, cultural and socioeconomic diversity in family home environments through emic approaches.