Confirmatory Factor Analysis Wizard
Confirmatory factor analysis models are just like ordinary common factor models, except that some factor loadings and factor intercorrelations can be constrained to be equal to each other, or to zero. This allows statistical testing of preconceived notions about the general form of the factor pattern.
The Confirmatory Factor Analysis Wizard allows you to construct any confirmatory factor model in just a few seconds, so long as the model has eight common factors or less. Most models encountered in practice fall in this category. Larger models can be constructed, with a bit more effort, using the generalized Path Construction Tool.
Most of the confirmatory factor analysis model is defined on the first dialog of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis Wizard using the three steps, below.
- Step 1
- Most of the information about the confirmatory factor model is entered in this step. First, you decide on factor names, and which manifest variables will load on each latent variable, or factor. You enter the names of the common factors in the Latent Vars fields. After specifying the factor names, click on the Vars button to select which variables will load on a particular factor. The variables you have already selected to load on a particular latent variable will appear in Manifest Vars field.
- Step 2
- Next, you decide on the name for your residual variables, and the numbering of model parameters. Enter a base name in the Base Name for Residuals field. The names of the residual variables will be constructed by adding an integer (starting at one) to this base name. So, for example, if you enter EPS as the base name, and you have four manifest variables, your residual variables will be named EPS1, EPS2, EPS3, and EPS4. You also need to choose a starting number for the free parameters in your model. You can specify that value in the Starting Parameter Number field.
- Step 3
- Finally, you decide whether or not you want your common factors and residuals to be correlated. If you decide to have correlations for either your factors or residual variables, additional dialog boxes will appear to prompt you for these correlations. They are labeled Confirmatory Factor Model - Correlate Factors and Confirmatory Factor Model - Correlate Residuals.
For information on the other wizards implemented in this version of the Structural Modeling module, see Structural Modeling Wizard.