The central objective of factor analysis is to explain the greatest amount of variance in a data set with the smallest number of factors. Higher-order analysis is an invaluable tool that offers the benefit of parsimony provided by first-order analysis with the opportunity to make data-based generalizations beyond the first-order. Higher-order…

This paper explains how Q-technique factor analysis can be used to identify types or clusters of people with similar views. Q-technique factor analysis can be implemented with commonly available statistical software such as the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The paper addresses three questions: (1) How many types (factors) of…

Factor analysis has been characterized as being at the heart of the score validation process. In virtually all applications of exploratory factor analysis, factors are rotated to better meet L. Thurstone's simple structure criteria. Two major rotation strategies are available: orthogonal and oblique. This paper reviews the numerous rotation…

Factor analysis has historically been used for myriad purposes in the social and behavioral sciences, but an especially important application of this technique has been to evaluate construct validity. Since in the present milieu both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) are readily available to the researcher,…

Focusing on linear interpolation, an accurate method of implementing parallel analysis, this article contains tables of 95th percentile eigenvalues from random data than can be used with sample sizes of 50 to 500 subjects and between 5 and 50 variables. An empirical example illustrates how to obtain the eigenvalues. (SLD)

Whenever one uses ordinary least squares regression, one is making an implicit assumption that all of the independent variables have been measured without error. Such an assumption is obviously unrealistic for most social data. One approach for estimating such regression models is to measure implied coefficients between latent variables for which…

In this study, the data originally used by Hemphill, Griffiths, and Frederiksen in their "Whittman" study of principals' behavior patterns were factor analyzed using psychometric techniques. Results of the analysis substantiated four of the eight originally defined dimensions of administrative behavior, and an additional important factor termed…

One area of home-school-community relations research lies in the study of unique patterns of educational participation by community residents. This study was designed to investigate patterns of citizen participation in education. A questionnaire was developed and a random sample of 250 registered voters was selected from a county school district…

To learn more about the motivational factors of adult learners, data were collected regarding the instructional motivation perceptions of adults in a variety of learning environments. Subjects in the first phase of the study were a mixture of 183 graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in credit and noncredit education courses of 4…

A study was undertaken at Loma Linda University to identify the psychological needs that motivate undergraduate students to seek nonrequired information, the sources they use, and any relationship between the needs and sources. A significant relationship was found between the motivating needs and the categories of sources used. (CDD)

Career decision making is an important aspect of life. At some point one must decide what type of job to apply for or whether to seek education for a specific career. Many individuals struggle with these decisions. Unfortunately, multidimensional measures of uncertainty are needed in providing guidance to such persons, because it appears the…

The school district fiscal capacity data (1962 and 1967) of the National Finance Project were analyzed for psychometric adequacy and robustness of component composition. The procedures involved: (1) the computation of the Kaiser, Meyer, Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy, (2) inspection of the off-diagonal elements of the antiimage covariance…

This study was initiated to investigate the relationship between voters' socioeconomic and attitudinal characteristics and their behavior in school district financial referenda. Using a survey instrument developed through pilot study application and factor analysis techniques, data were collected from 1,030 registered voters in three Kansas school…

Adapting credentialing examinations for international uses involves translating tests for use in multiple languages. This paper explores methods for evaluating construct equivalence and item equivalence across different language versions of a test. These methods were applied to four different language versions (English, French, German, and…

This paper outlines the design and use of two linear models as decision-making tools in a school district. The problem to be solved was the allocation of resources for both clerical and custodial personnel. A solution was desired that could be quantified and documented and objectively serve the needs of the district. A clerical support model was…