Used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), hypothesized factors that were less than the number of variables, and then examined how well the intercorrelations were reproduced. Results help explain that the type of correlation matrix and estimation method affect factor loadings and fit functions. Suggests some alternative approaches. (SLD)

Data from the General Social Survey for 1977 (n=1,303) and 1991 (n=430) are used to examine the stability of attitudes toward abortion and women's roles. Findings support the hypothesis that public attitudes toward discretionary abortion and nontraditional sex roles are discrete but correlated sets of attitudes that remained stable from 1977 to…