Confirmatory Factor Analysis in Kinesiology Journals with Explicit Measurement Focus

Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is a commonly used statistical technique. Recommendations for evaluating CFA highlight scholars should outline the expected model, conduct data screening, report model estimation and evaluation, and report key information about results to provide evidence for latent variables. The purpose of the current study was to review and evaluate the use of CFA in research published from 2013 to 2022 in the journal of Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science (MPEES), the most measurement focused journal in kinesiology, in our view. Results were cross-checked by examining research published in Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport during the same time period. Strengths included providing information about the expected model, evaluating the final model, and reporting parameter estimates. Areas for improvement included conducting data screening and evaluating factor quality. Finally, recommendations for scholars to improve reporting of CFA in kinesiology are provided.