Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis: Which One to Use First?

Abstract

There exist differences between the use of Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor analysis at scale adaptation or development studies. The order of factor analysis used would cause the discrepancy in the results. Besides, multiple confirmatory factor analysis would fit well on a single data set. In this study simulated data sets were fitted to three different models. Based on the results 64% of the data sets fit well on all three models. Also, a different data set was fit both on a confirmatory and an exploratory factor analysis. The result showed that confirmatory factor analyses were not sufficient to detect the best fitting model.