To improve the calculation accuracy of the Duncan-Chang E-B model regarding the deformation of the rock-fill dam, the single factor analysis method based on finite element calculation nodes in the whole zone of the computational dam is proposed together with the orthogonal experimental method based on the double discriminant method in this study. The sensitivity of dam deformation due to the compacted density of dam and the model parameters is studied, so as to ascertain the main influencing parameters of the dam deformation. A case study indicates that the dam deformation is significantly influenced by five parameters i. e. φ₀, K_b, ρ, R_f and K, and their spatial differences deserve further research with emphasis. The methods proposed in this paper overcome the disadvantages of traditional single factor method, in which the samples are lack of representatives. With these methods, the significance level of parameters sensitivity can be determined in a quantitative way, thus improving the comprehensiveness and precision of the sensitivity analysis and providing some reference for the reasonable selection of model parameters that require spatial assignment in the refined analysis of rock-fill dam deformation.