Correlation between residuals in confirmatory factor analysis: a brief guide to their use and interpretation

Introduction: The inclusion of correlations between residuals in measurement models is a common practice in psychometric research and is predominantly oriented to the statistical improvement of the model through increase (for example, IFC) or decrease (for example, RMSEA) of the magnitude of certain...

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Main Author: Sergio Dominguez-Lara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Peruano de Orientación Psicológica – IPOPS 2019-09-01
Series:Interacciones
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.24016/2019.v5n3.207
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author Sergio Dominguez-Lara
author_facet Sergio Dominguez-Lara
author_sort Sergio Dominguez-Lara
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The inclusion of correlations between residuals in measurement models is a common practice in psychometric research and is predominantly oriented to the statistical improvement of the model through increase (for example, IFC) or decrease (for example, RMSEA) of the magnitude of certain adjustment indices, rather than understanding the nature of these associations. This methodological report aims to present to the reader the modeling, management, and interpretation of correlated residuals in a framework of confirmatory factor analysis and poor specifications. Method: Using data from a previously presented study of 521 psychology students at a private university in Metropolitan Lima (75.8% women). The Flowering Scale is used to perform the analyses. Results and Discussion: These specifications would not have a real impact on the relationship of the elements with the construct they evaluate, so they do not contribute modifications to the understanding of the model. Therefore, specifying correlations between residuals could mask a poorly specified model, or with internal failures, by increasing spurious adjustment rates.
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spelling doaj-art-16d205f6de1b49dcb371768bb4a327cb2025-02-02T00:47:12ZengInstituto Peruano de Orientación Psicológica – IPOPSInteracciones2411-59402413-44652019-09-0153e20710.24016/2019.v5n3.207Correlation between residuals in confirmatory factor analysis: a brief guide to their use and interpretationSergio Dominguez-Lara0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2083-4278Universidad de San Martín de PorresIntroduction: The inclusion of correlations between residuals in measurement models is a common practice in psychometric research and is predominantly oriented to the statistical improvement of the model through increase (for example, IFC) or decrease (for example, RMSEA) of the magnitude of certain adjustment indices, rather than understanding the nature of these associations. This methodological report aims to present to the reader the modeling, management, and interpretation of correlated residuals in a framework of confirmatory factor analysis and poor specifications. Method: Using data from a previously presented study of 521 psychology students at a private university in Metropolitan Lima (75.8% women). The Flowering Scale is used to perform the analyses. Results and Discussion: These specifications would not have a real impact on the relationship of the elements with the construct they evaluate, so they do not contribute modifications to the understanding of the model. Therefore, specifying correlations between residuals could mask a poorly specified model, or with internal failures, by increasing spurious adjustment rates.http://dx.doi.org/10.24016/2019.v5n3.207factor analysiscorrelated residualsfit indices
spellingShingle Sergio Dominguez-Lara
Correlation between residuals in confirmatory factor analysis: a brief guide to their use and interpretation
Interacciones
factor analysis
correlated residuals
fit indices
title Correlation between residuals in confirmatory factor analysis: a brief guide to their use and interpretation
title_full Correlation between residuals in confirmatory factor analysis: a brief guide to their use and interpretation
title_fullStr Correlation between residuals in confirmatory factor analysis: a brief guide to their use and interpretation
title_full_unstemmed Correlation between residuals in confirmatory factor analysis: a brief guide to their use and interpretation
title_short Correlation between residuals in confirmatory factor analysis: a brief guide to their use and interpretation
title_sort correlation between residuals in confirmatory factor analysis a brief guide to their use and interpretation
topic factor analysis
correlated residuals
fit indices
url http://dx.doi.org/10.24016/2019.v5n3.207
work_keys_str_mv AT sergiodominguezlara correlationbetweenresidualsinconfirmatoryfactoranalysisabriefguidetotheiruseandinterpretation