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ERIC Number: EJ970502
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1070-5511
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Measurement and Structural Model Class Separation in Mixture CFA: ML/EM versus MCMC
Depaoli, Sarah
Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, v19 n2 p178-203 2012
Parameter recovery was assessed within mixture confirmatory factor analysis across multiple estimator conditions under different simulated levels of mixture class separation. Mixture class separation was defined in the measurement model (through factor loadings) and the structural model (through factor variances). Maximum likelihood (ML) via the EM algorithm was compared to a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) estimator condition using weak priors and a condition using tight priors. Results indicated that the MCMC weak condition produced the highest bias, particularly with a weak Dirichlet prior for the mixture class proportions. Specifically, the weak Dirichlet prior affected parameter estimates under all mixture class separation conditions, even with moderate and large sample sizes. With little knowledge about parameters, ML/EM should be used over MCMC weak. However, MCMC tight produced the lowest bias under all mixture class separation conditions and should be used if tight and accurate priors can be placed on parameters. (Contains 7 tables, 2 figures, and 10 footnotes.)
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
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A