Confirmatory Factor Analysis Using AMOS: Step 1: Launch The AMOS Software
Confirmatory Factor Analysis Using AMOS: Step 1: Launch The AMOS Software
This material is prepared by Dr. Vipul Patel, Faculty in the area of Marketing, V.M.Patel
Institute of Management, Ganpat University, Mehsana for Classroom discussion only. You can
contact him at ---------------- [email protected]
Step 2: Load the data file
To load the data, go to File → Data Files. The Data Files dialog box then opens.
Click on File Name and navigate to the location where the data file is stored. By default, Amos
looks for an SPSS file. Choose the data file you wish to open, click Open, and then OK.
Step 3.1 First we will draw the diagram for Job Satisfaction (JS) Dimensions. It is measured
using five indicators.
JS1
JS2
JS3
JS4
JS5
Step 3.2 The next step is to name each of the variables. The easiest way to name the observed
variables is to bring up a list of variable names in the loaded data file.
Go to View → Variables in Dataset. The Variables in
Dataset window then opens.
It is now possible to click-and-drag each variable to its corresponding rectangle in the path
diagram.
Follow the same process to name the unique factors representing measurement error. Name these
e1 through e5.
Step 3.1 to Step 3.3 will yield following path diagram.
Follow the same steps for the arrows connecting each of the error terms with their respective
indicators.
, placing the curser inside the oval, and clicking five times. AMOS adds five rectangles
representing observed indicators along with ovals representing measurement error. The scales of
the unique factors are automatically set by constraining the regression weights to equal one. The
variables could then be named as described above.
Step 3.5 In the same manner, repeat the Step 3.1 to Step 3.4 to draw other latent variables
named “Organizational Commitment (OC),” “Staying Intention (SI),””Environmental
Perceptions (EP),” and “Attitude Toward Coworkers (AC).”
The Final Path diagram will look like this.
Step 4: Running Analysis in AMOS
Go to View → Analysis Properties. Click on the Output tab and choose the following options:
Minimization history, Standardized estimates, Squared multiple correlations, and
Modification indices.
To start the estimation, choose Analyze → Calculate Estimates.
After the estimation is completed it is possible to view the parameter estimates in the path
diagram by clicking the View the output path diagram button.
By default the unstandardized estimates will display. To bring up the standardized estimates,
click on the Standardized estimates option in the column between the tools and the drawing
space.
Following output screen will be displayed.
The dimension of Job Satisfaction is zoomed and shown below:
The path diagram now displays the standardized regression weights (factor loadings) for the
common factor and each of the indicators. The squared multiple correlation coefficients (R2),
describing the amount of variance the common factor accounts for in the observed variables, are
also displayed.
It is possible to get more information about the model than what appears in the path diagram by
going to View → Text output. This opens an output window giving information about the raw
data, the model, estimation, model fit, and any additional information requested with the
Analysis Properties box utilized earlier.