Tuesday, August 19, 2014

THE SECOND ORDER CONFIRMATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS

The Second Order CFA is a statistical method employed by the researcher to confirm that the theorized construct in a study loads into certain number of underlying sub-constructs. For example, the theory posits that service quality construct consist of five underlying sub-constructs and each sub-construct is measured using certain number of items. The researcher might want to estimate the effect of main construct on its sub-constructs. Here, the main construct has become second order construct while the sub-constructs have become the first order construct.

THE STEPS IN PERFORMING SECOND ORDER CFA
The procedure of performing the second order factor analysis is as follows:

Step 1: Run the CFA for all first order latent sub-constructs (measurement model) In this step, the researcher is running CFA for the measurement model of sub-constructs. The CFA procedure for first order constructs has been discussed in detail in Chapter 3.

Step 2: Run the Second Order CFA for the main construct on its sub-constructs In this step, the researcher estimate the causal effects from the main construct to all its sub-constructs. The estimation is carried out by linking the main construct to all sub-constructs using a single headed arrow. The objective here is to estimate the factor loading of main construct on its sub-constructs in order to confirm that the theorized second order construct loads into the respective sub-constructs.

PERFORMING SECOND ORDER CFA FOR TRAINING TRANSFER CONSTRUCTS

In this study, the researcher is estimating the Training Transfer construct (main construct) on its three sub-constructs namely Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude. The three latent sub-constructs are measured using certain number of items.

As usual, the researcher runs the CFA to validate the measurement models of the latent constructs for unidimensionality, validity, and reliability. After CFA, the items remaining for sub-construct Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude are three, four, and four respectively as shown in Figure 1.
 
Figure 1: The CFA for the sub-constructs
In Figure 1, we can see that all fitness indexes achieved the required level. Now these sub-constructs are ready to be modeled in its main constructs as shown in Figure 2.

 
Figure 2: Estimating the factor loading for the main construct (second order) Training Transfer

In the above diagram, Training Transfer is the main construct while Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude are three sub-constructs. Prior to Second Order CFA, these three sub-constructs have gone through CFA for their measurement model (Figure 1). In second order CFA, the main construct Training Transfer will become second order construct and the three sub-constructs will become the first order constructs.
 
Don't miss our workshop end of this month!

Course Title : Two Day Workshop on Structural Equation Modeling (SEM/AMOS) Level 2
 
Date
»
29 & 30 August 2014 (Friday & Saturday)
Time
»
8.30 a.m. - 5.30 p.m.
Venue
»
MPWS Training Centre, 63-1, 63-2, Jalan Kajang Impian 1/11,
Taman Kajang Impian, Seksyen 7, 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor # map
Speaker
»
Professor Dr. Zainudin Hj Awang
Registration Fee
»
RM350 (early bird rate) / RM400 (normal rate)  
Medium
»
English
Website
»
http://postgraduateworkshop.com/semleveltwo

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