What does confirmatory factor analysis tell you?

Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is a statistical technique used to verify the factor structure of a set of observed variables. CFA allows the researcher to test the hypothesis that a relationship between observed variables and their underlying latent constructs exists.

Is SEM the same as CFA?

SEM is an umbrella term. CFA is the measurement part of SEM, which shows relationships between latent variables and their indicators. The other part is the structural component, or the path model, which shows how the variables of interest (often latent variables) are related.

What is confirmatory data analysis CDA?

Confirmatory Data Analysis CDA is the process used to evaluate evidence by challenging their assumptions about the data. This part of the process is where they work backward from their conclusions and weigh the merits of the results of their work.

Is confirmatory factor analysis reliable?

In order to be practical, although CFA has been carried out if the reviewers of your manuscript have suggested to include Cronbach alpha scores to confirm your scales are reliable enough, it is very easy to perform a reliability analysis, and thus you strength your document.

What is the difference between SEM and factor analysis?

EFA is a data-driven approach which is generally used as an investigative technique to identify relationships among variables. SEM is an a priori theory approach which is most often used to determine the extent to which an already established theory about relationships among variables is supported by empirical data.

What is the difference between confirmatory and exploratory data analysis?

The terms confirmatory and exploratory are used differently by different researchers. Some researchers apply the term confirmatory only to confirmation of a previous empirical study. For these researchers, the initial research testing a theoretical hypothesis is described as exploratory.