I have a dependent construct (attitude) which has at least 2 dimensions in theory (affective & behavioral). The scale measure adopted for this research is found to have 2 or 3 dimensions in literature. Thus, on the theoretical level, this construct should be a second order factor when conducting CFA in AMOS.
But, the EFA of 782 cases data-set in SPSS shows that there is only one factor, not two, and this is what the sample presents.
So, in this case, when the results of EFA are different from those of theory, what should we do? Can we still treat this construct as a second (higher) order factor with two dimensions (sub-factors)? Or do we have to respect the results of the EFA and treat it as only one factor?