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Evaluating the Fit of Structural Equation Models: Tests of Significance and Descriptive Goodness-of-Fit Measures
Open accessAbstract
For structural equation models, a huge variety of fit indices has been developed. These indices, however, can point to conflicting conclusions about the extent to which a model actually matches the observed data. The present article provides some guidelines that should help applied researchers to evaluate the adequacy of a given structural equation model. First, as goodness-of-fit measures depend on the method used for parameter estimation, maximum likelihood (ML) and weighted least squares (WLS) methods are introduced in the context of structural equation modeling. Then, the most common goodness-of-fit indices are discussed and some recommendations for practitioners given. Finally, we generated an artificial data set according to a "true" model and analyzed two misspecified and two correctly specified models as examples of poor model fit, adequate fit, and good fit.
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“Furthermore, additional fit indices such as GFI = 0.92, AGFI = 0.89 and RMS = 0.06 also indicated an acceptable fit of the data to the model (Schermelleh-Engel et al., 2003).”
From Psychometric Evaluation of the Polish Version of the Mindfulness Inventory for Sport (MIS-PL) (2024) · cites this paper as Schermelleh-Engel et al., 2003
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Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Schermelleh-Engel, K., Moosbrugger, H., & Müller, H.
- Affiliations
- Goethe University Frankfurt (DE)
- University of Erfurt (DE)
- Venue
- Department of Psychology - University of Koblenz-Landau
- Publisher
- Department of Psychology - University of Koblenz-Landau
- Published
- 2003
- Volume
- 8
- Pages
- 23-74
- OpenAlex
- W1627191216
- Cited by
- 8,975
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2026: 128 · 2025: 749 · 2024: 891 · 2023: 928 · 2022: 910 · 2021: 879 · 2020: 837 · 2019: 538 · 2018: 489 · 2017: 420 · 2016: 392 · 2015: 395 · 2014: 348 · 2013: 284 · 2012: 212
- FWCI
- 19.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Psychology Archives
- 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
- structural equation modeling, model fit assessment, goodness-of-fit indices, significance tests, maximum likelihood estimation, weighted least squares estimation, model misspecification
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