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Reconsidering the Conditions for Conducting Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 December 2020

Daniel Ondé Open the ORCID record for Daniel Ondé [Opens in a new window]  and
Jesús M. Alvarado Open the ORCID record for Jesús M. Alvarado [Opens in a new window]
Daniel Ondé*
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense (Spain)
Jesús M. Alvarado
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Daniel Ondé Pérez. Universidad Complutense. Facultad de Psicología. Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología en Ciencias del Comportamiento. 28040 Madrid (Spain). E-mail: donde@ucm.es
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Abstract

There is a series of conventions governing how Confirmatory Factor Analysis gets applied, from minimum sample size to the number of items representing each factor, to estimation of factor loadings so they may be interpreted. In their implementation, these rules sometimes lead to unjustified decisions, because they sideline important questions about a model’s practical significance and validity. Conducting a Monte Carlo simulation study, the present research shows the compensatory effects of sample size, number of items, and strength of factor loadings on the stability of parameter estimation when Confirmatory Factor Analysis is conducted. The results point to various scenarios in which bad decisions are easy to make and not detectable through goodness of fit evaluation. In light of the findings, these authors alert researchers to the possible consequences of arbitrary rule following while validating factor models. Before applying the rules, we recommend that the applied researcher conduct their own simulation studies, to determine what conditions would guarantee a stable solution for the particular factor model in question.

Keywords

Confirmatory Factor AnalysisMonte Carlo studypractical significancevalidity
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 23 , 2020 , e55
Copyright
© Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2020

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Footnotes

Conflicts of Interest: None

Funding Statement: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial or not-for-profit sectors

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