Introduction to Factor Analysis - What It Is and How To Do It

• NCJ Number: 72012
• Author(s): J Kim; C W Mueller
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 78 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Sage University Paper Series on Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences, Series no. 07-013

Annotation

This monograph presents the fundamental assumptions, logical foundations, and techniques in quantitative social science.

Abstract

The monograph is intended for use by nonstatisticians who are actively using the method. Factor analysis refers to a variety of statistical techniques whose common goal is to represent a set of statistical techniques whose common smaller number of hypothetical variables. The monograph begins with presentations of the conceptual foundation of factor analysis and of the use of computer programs as a means of obtaining basic solutions. A section on mathematical foundations of factor analysis presents the basic concepts of variable, factor, variance, covariance, and linear systems. Simple illustrations and mathematical derivations are used to examine the properties of the linear system. Sources of logical uncertainties and ways of handling these uncertainties are presented. The next section describes the major steps in using factor analysis and presents illustrations involving error-free data. The use of four available packaged computer programs is also described. Complications introduced when real data are analyzed are briefly outlined. An introduction to the literature and computer programs on factor analysis, a glossary of terms, figures, tables, a note, and 104 references are included. For a companion volume treating more advanced material and technical issues, see NCJ 72014. For other volumes in this series, see NCJ 72008, 72010-12.