On the question of an identity status category order: Rasch model step and scale statistics used to identify category order

The question of whether or not a developmental continuum underlies James Marcia's identity statuses has been a topic of debate among identity researchers for nearly 20 years. This study addressed the prefatory question of whether the identity statuses can be empirically ordered in a theoretically optimal way. This question was addressed via use of Rasch model threshold and scale statistics, which effectively differentiated empirically optimal from suboptimal category orders. All permutations of Marcia's 4 identity statuses were generated in relation to stages from Loevinger's model of ego development and Kegan's model of self-other differentiation. The optimal identity status order found was diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, to achievement in 2 sets of analyses, and diffusion combined with fore closure to moratorium, to achievement in 2 additional sets of analyses. The order diffusion, foreclosure, achievement, to moratorium performed nearly as well in one set of analyses. Results, i