Topic outline

  • Unit 7: Factor analysis

    To complete this unit you need to

    1. Watch the video lectures
    2. Read the materials for the written assignment 6 (mandatory)
    3. Complete the unit 7 discussion forum task
    4. Return written assignment 6 (mandatory)
    5. View the model answer for written assignment 6 and instructors comment's to written assignment 6 (mandatory)
    6. Participate in the seminar (optional)
    7. Participate in the computer class (optional)
    8. Submit data analysis assignment 3 (optional)
    9. Complete your caption assignments for unit 7 and all earlier units
    10. Submit Reflection and feedback for unit 7

    The unit continues from the previous unit by introducing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), structural regression models, and some of their post-estimation tools. In the seminar, we discuss also conceptualization and scale development processes. After this unit, you should:

    • Understand the difference between exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.
    • Have a basic understanding of the workflow for a confirmatory factor analysis.
    • Know what the chi2 statistic in a CFA tests, know why it is the most important statistics that the analysis provides, and have a basic understanding of what to do when the chi2 test rejects the model (which it often does).
    • Know the basic idea of structural regression models. (This analysis technique is a bit more advanced and it is not addressed on the course in detail, but it is useful to know the basic idea because the technique is widely used.)
    • Know why the idea of "formative measurement" is problematic.
    • Know when and why indices constructed from non-scale variables can be useful and how such indices can be justified.
    • Understand the importance of conceptualization as a first step in measurement development and have a basic understanding of a commonly used scale development procedure. (This is not covered in the videos, but will be discussed in the seminar.)

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Unit 6: Measurement
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Unit 8: Research design and current issues