Caught off Base: A Note on the Interpretation of Incremental Fit Indices
Open Access
- 13 April 2022
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal
- Vol. 29 (6) , 935-943
Abstract
This note serves as a reminder that incremental fit indices are a form of standardized effect sizes and hence, all reservations with respect to interpretations of standardized effect sizes also transfer to their interpretation. Such a realization has major implications for the interpretation and use of incremental fit indices, for the theoretical (im)possibility of default universal rules of thumb in their application, and for simulation studies mapping incremental fit indices as if their value is comparable in an absolute sense across any and all conditions. A small but illustrative working example centered around the alleged impact of model type will drive these points home.Keywords
Funding Information
- Norwegian Research Council
This publication has 19 references indexed in Scilit:
- Standardized or simple effect size: What should be reported?British Journal of Psychology, 2009
- Reporting practices in confirmatory factor analysis: An overview and some recommendations.Psychological Methods, 2009
- Sensitivity of Fit Indices to Model Misspecification and Model TypesMultivariate Behavioral Research, 2007
- Bias-Corrected Estimation of Noncentrality Parameters of Covariance Structure ModelsStructural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 2005
- Simulation Study on Fit Indexes in CFA Based on Data With Slightly Distorted Simple StructureStructural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 2005
- 5. Three Likelihood-Based Methods for Mean and Covariance Structure Analysis with Nonnormal Missing DataSociological Methodology, 2000
- Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternativesStructural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 1999
- The equal correlation baseline model for comparative fit assessment in structural equation modelingStructural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 1998
- Goodness-of-fit indexes in confirmatory factor analysis: The effect of sample size.Psychological Bulletin, 1988
- Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures.Psychological Bulletin, 1980