CFI versus RMSEA: a comparison of two fit indexes for structural equation modeling
Abstract
This article compares two structural equation modeling fit indexes—Bentler's ( 1990; Bentler & Bonett, 1980) Confirmatory Fit Index (CFI) and Steiger and Lind's (1980; Browne & Cudeck, 1993) Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA). These two fit indexes are both conceptually linked to the noncentral chi‐square distribution, but CFI has seen much wider use in applied research, whereas RMSEA has only recently been gaining attention. The article suggests that use of CFI is problematic because of its baseline model. CFI seems to be appropriate in more exploratory contexts, whereas RMSEA is appropriate in more confirmatory contexts. On the other hand, CFI does have an established parsimony adjustment, although the adjustment included in RMSEA may be inadequate.
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The RMSEA can result in artificially lower estimates when there are weak factor loadings, as was the case in this model.
“However, the RMSEA will result in artificially lower estimates when there are weak factor loadings (Heene et al., 2011; Savalei, 2012), as is the case in this model, which can lead to an acceptance of a larger saturated model (Rigdon, 1996).”
From A psychometric analysis of the reading the mind in the eyes test: toward a brief form for research and applied settings (2015) · cites this paper as Rigdon, 1996
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- Authors
- Rigdon, E. E.
- Affiliations
- Georgia State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Rigdon, Edward E.
- ORCID
- Rigdon, Edward E.
- Venue
- Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1996-01
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 369-379
- ISSN
- 1070-5511 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-8007
- OpenAlex
- W2024934382
- Cited by
- 668
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 53 · 2021: 57 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 47 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 10.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Structural Equation Modeling A Multidisciplinary Journal (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods and Bayesian Inference
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Distribution Estimation and Applications
- Keywords
- RMSEA, model fit indices, structural equation modeling, noncentral chi-square distribution, baseline model
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