Evidence Regarding the Internal Structure: Confirmatory Factor Analysis

ABSTRACT

American Educational Research Association (AERA) standards stipulate that researchers show evidence of the internal structure of instruments. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is one structural equation modeling procedure designed to assess construct validity of assessments that has broad applicability for counselors interested in instrument development. Five steps in conducting CFA are provided, along with an illustrated example.

KEYWORDS:

• Confirmatory factor analysis
• validity

Notes on Contributor

Todd F. Lewis, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Counseling and Counselor Education at North Dakota State University. He serves as the Associate Editor for Quantitative Research for the Journal of Counseling and Development.