Hi all,
Kindly help me to know when can we use Exploratory Factor Analysis(EFA) and Confirmatory Factor analysis(CFA)?
Regards,
Hello Uday,
this question was asked appr. 1,000 times before ;)
This should help
https://www.researchgate.net/post/EFA_exploratory_factor_analysis_CFA_confirmatory_factor_analysis_or_both#view=5c9937470f95f1a905604215
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_we_do_exploratory_and_confirmatory_factor_analysis_in_the_same_data_set2#view=5486170ad4c118047c8b477f
Good luck,
Holger
In addition to the resources provided by Holger Steinmetz , I would like to add that EFA is almost always unnecessary unless you are really exploring the number of factors. In most cases, we are not doing that. We usually have at least some ideas related to which variables should measure which and (how many) factor(s). Therefore, CFA is typically the more appropriate and more powerful (more flexible) method because it allows us to test our a priori hypotheses about factor structures and to compare competing factor models statistically.
Hey Uday
Sometimes it's a bit overwhelming when thinking about big questions like CFA or EFA - indeed, if you are thinking about this question then maybe you need to get a better feel about what these techniques are and how they are applied. Some people prefer to learn by watching and reading, so if you follow these links you'll find some very high quality videos in many areas of quant methods - but they all address factor analysis.
https://www.youtube.com/@statquest
https://www.youtube.com/@datatab
https://www.youtube.com/@QuantFish
On an unrelated issue, I think your university has the best name ever!
Best wishes
Mark
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