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Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling

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The Palgrave Handbook of Applied Linguistics Research Methodology

Abstract

This chapter explains the core principles of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) that can be used in applied linguistics research. CFA and SEM are multivariate statistical techniques researchers use to test a hypothesis or theory. This chapter provides essential guidelines for not only how to read CFA and SEM reports but also how to perform CFA. CFA differs from exploratory factor analysis in many ways (e.g., statistical assumptions and procedures, assessment of model fit and methods for extracting factors). Researchers employ SEM to evaluate or test among observed variables and latent variables. In this chapter, EQS Program is used to illustrate how to perform CFA.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sydney School of Education and Social Work, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Aek Phakiti

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  1. Aek Phakiti
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Correspondence to Aek Phakiti .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sydney School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Aek Phakiti

  2. Department of Linguistics, Germanic, Slavic, Asian and African Languages, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Peter De Costa

  3. Applied Linguistics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA

    Luke Plonsky

  4. School of Education, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Sue Starfield

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Phakiti, A. (2018). Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling. In: Phakiti, A., De Costa, P., Plonsky, L., Starfield, S. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Applied Linguistics Research Methodology. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59900-1_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59900-1_21

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-59899-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-59900-1

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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