ERIC Number: EJ990893
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 27
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0027-3171
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Available Date: N/A
An Investigation of the Sample Performance of Two Nonnormality Corrections for RMSEA
Brosseau-Liard, Patricia E.; Savalei, Victoria; Li, Libo
Multivariate Behavioral Research, v47 n6 p904-930 2012
The root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) is a popular fit index in structural equation modeling (SEM). Typically, RMSEA is computed using the normal theory maximum likelihood (ML) fit function. Under nonnormality, the uncorrected sample estimate of the ML RMSEA tends to be inflated. Two robust corrections to the sample ML RMSEA have been proposed, but the theoretical and empirical differences between the 2 have not been explored. In this article, we investigate the behavior of these 2 corrections. We show that the virtually unknown correction due to Li and Bentler (2006), which we label the sample-corrected robust RMSEA, is a consistent estimate of the population ML RMSEA yet drastically reduces bias due to nonnormality in small samples. On the other hand, the popular correction implemented in several SEM programs, which we label the population-corrected robust RMSEA, has poor properties because it estimates a quantity that decreases with increasing nonnormality. We recommend the use of the sample-corrected RMSEA with nonnormal data and its wide implementation. (Contains 1 table, 10 figures and 1 footnote.)
Descriptors: Structural Equation Models, Goodness of Fit, Maximum Likelihood Statistics, Robustness (Statistics), Comparative Analysis, Computation, Affective Measures
Psychology Press. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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