The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of selected fit index statistics in determining model fit in structural equation modeling (SEM). The results indicated a large dependency on correlation magnitude of the input correlation matrix, with mixed results when the correlation magnitudes were low and a primary indication of good model fit. This was due to the default SEM method of Maximum Likelihood that assumes unstandardized correlation values. However, this warning is not well-known, and is only obscurely mentioned in some textbooks. Many SEM computer software programs do not give appropriate error indications that the results are unsubstantiated when standardized correlation values are provided.
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