Previous confirmatory factor analytic research that has examined the factor structure of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) has endorsed either higher order models or oblique factor models that tend to amalgamate both general factor and index factor sources of systematic variance. An alternative model that has not yet…

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is a commonly used statistical technique for examining the relationships between variables (e.g., items) and the factors (e.g., latent traits) they depict. There are several decisions that must be made when using EFA, with one of the more important being choice of the rotation criterion. This selection can be…

Bifactor latent structures were introduced over 70 years ago, but only recently has bifactor modeling been rediscovered as an effective approach to modeling "construct-relevant" multidimensionality in a set of ordered categorical item responses. I begin by describing the Schmid-Leiman bifactor procedure (Schmid & Leiman, 1957) and highlight its…

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is generally regarded as a technique for large sample sizes ("N"), with N = 50 as a reasonable absolute minimum. This study offers a comprehensive overview of the conditions in which EFA can yield good quality results for "N" below 50. Simulations were carried out to estimate the minimum required "N" for different…

Proposes Promin as an alternative to Promaj for the rotation of oblique factors. Identifies advantages of the Promin approach, which seems to perform better than other well-known procedures. (SLD)

A sufficient condition in terms of the unique variances of a common factor model is given for the results of factor analysis to come closer to those of principal components analysis. In general, vectors corresponding to loading matrices can be related to each other by a specific measure of closeness, which is illustrated. (SLD)

A cross-validation method is described for selecting the significant components from a principal components analysis, and properties of the method are discussed. Parallels are drawn with other related methods in covariance structure modeling, and some comparisons among methods are illustrated with two data sets previously analyzed. (SLD)

Some problems of multiple-group factor rotation based on the parallel proportional profiles and confactor rotation of R. B. Cattell are described, and several alternative modeling solutions are proposed. Benefits and limitations of the structural-modeling approach to oblique confactor resolution are examined, and opportunities for research are…

Proposes a class of multivariate Tobit models with a factor structure on the covariance matrix. Such models are useful in the exploratory analysis of multivariate censored data and the identification of latent variables from behavioral data. The factor structure provides a parsimonious representation of the censored data. Models are estimated with…

This article examines the methodological foundations of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and suggests that it is properly construed as a method for generating explanatory theories. In the first half of the article it is argued that EFA should be understood as an abductive method of theory generation that exploits an important precept of…

An iterative process is proposed for obtaining an orthogonal simple structure solution. At each iteration, a target matrix is constructed such that the relative contributions of the target majorize the original ones, factor by factor. The convergence of the procedure is proven, and the algorithm is illustrated. (SLD)

H. F. Kaiser, S. Hunka, and J. Bianchini have presented a method (1971) to compare two matrices of factor loadings based on the same variables, but different groups of individuals. The optimal rotation involved is examined from a mathematical point of view, and the method is shown to be invalid. (SLD)

Factor structures of student ratings of instruction resulting from total group, between group, and within group analyses were compared. Six factors obtained from responses by students to 31 items were used to approximate the between group covariance matrix based on 437 classroom means and the pooled within classroom covariance matrix. (Author/BJG)

The issue of indeterminacy in factor analysis and the debate between the proposed alternative solution and posterior moment position are explored in an article and 14 commentaries and rebuttals in two rounds. Implications for applied work involving factor analysis are discussed. (SLD)