STATS 10 EXPLORATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS Flashcards

1
Q

What are the uses of EFA?

A

EFA is useful for finding a multiple-factor model that best explains the pattern of correlations between observed variables

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2
Q

What are factorially simple variables?

A

Variables loaded with only one factor e.g. most psychological measures

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3
Q

What are factorially complex variables?

A

Variables loaded with more than one factor e.g. a problem in a maths test that involves both algebra and geometry

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4
Q

What are the residuals in factor analysis?

A

Residuals in factor analysis are differences between the observed correlations and correlations predicted by the model

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5
Q

How do residuals help determine the number of factors?

A

Large residuals in a 1-factor model show that we need another factor, you then repeat the residuals check for the 2-factor model and accept it if they’re good

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6
Q

What is the rotation problem?

A

In factor models, the axes can be altered in a way that keeps the data points constant, so that we end up with a more desirable rotation.

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7
Q

What is rotation?

A

Rotation is a transformation to achieve factorially simple variables from a multiple factor model (usually)

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8
Q

Which rotation method should you use?

A

An oblique rotation (e.g. oblimin, promax) which allows axes to change from their 90 degree angle

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9
Q

Why are factor correlations always slightly higher than correlations between sum scores?

A

because factor correlations are between latent factors that have taken an estimate of error into account

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10
Q

When would we use the maximum likelihood estimation method?

A

For large samples and normal data

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11
Q

When would we use the unweighted least squares estimation method?

A

For small samples and non-normal data

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12
Q

What is measurement by modelling?

A

Factor analysis, provides a scaling method

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13
Q

What sample size do you need for factor analysis?

A

AT LEAST 200, unless you have really “strong” data

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