CALMs: A Shiny Application for Comprehensive Analysis of Latent Means.

Abstract

This article presents a Shiny application CALMs for comprehensively comparing groups via latent means, which includes the examination of group equivalency, propensity score analysis, measurement invariance analysis, and assessment of latent mean differences of equivalent groups with invariant data. Despite the importance of these techniques, their application can be complex and time-consuming, particularly for researchers not experienced in advanced statistical methods. The Shiny application CALMs makes this cumbersome process more accessible to a broader range of users. In addition, it allows researchers to focus more on the interpretation aspect of the research rather than the labor required for testing. The practical utility of the CALMs application is demonstrated using real-world data, highlighting the potential of the application to enhance the validity and reliability of group comparison studies in psychological research.