Factor analysis is one of the success stories of statistics in the social sciences. The reason for its wide appeal is that it provides a way to investigate latent variables, the fundamental traits and concepts in the study of individual differences. Because of its importance, a conference was held to mark the centennial of the publication of Charles Spearman's seminal 1904 article which introduced the major elements of this invaluable statistical tool. This book evolved from that conference. It provides a retrospective look at major issues and developments as well as a prospective view of future directions in factor analysis and related methods. In so doing, it demonstrates how and why factor analysis is considered to be one of the methodological pillars of behavioral research. Featuring an outstanding collection of contributors, this volume offers unique insights on factor analysis and its related methods. Several chapters have a clear historical perspective, while others present new ideas along with historical summaries. In addition, the book reviews some of the extensions of factor analysis to such techniques as latent growth curve models, models for categorical data, and structural equation models. Factor Analysis at 100 will appeal to graduate students and researchers in the behavioral, social, health, and biological sciences who use this technique in their research. A basic knowledge of factor analysis is required and a working knowledge of linear algebra is helpful.

This book provides a retrospective look at major developments as well as a prospective view of future directions in factor analysis. In so doing, it demonstrates how and why factor analysis is considered to be one of the methodological pillars of behavioral research. Featuring an outstanding collection of contributors, this volume offers unique insights on factor analysis and its related methods. The book reviews some of the extensions of factor analysis to such techniques as latent growth curve models, models for categorical data, and structural equation models. Intended for graduate students and researchers in the behavioral, social, health, and biological sciences who use this technique in their research, a basic knowledge of factor analysis is required and a working knowledge of linear algebra is helpful.

The goal of this book is to foster a basic understanding of factor analytic techniques so that readers can use them in their own research and critically evaluate their use by other researchers. Both the underlying theory and correct application are emphasized. The theory is presented through the mathematical basis of the most common factor analytic models and several methods used in factor analysis. On the application side, considerable attention is given to the extraction problem, the rotation problem, and the interpretation of factor analytic results. Hence, readers are given a background of understanding in the the theory underlying factor analysis and then taken through the steps in executing a proper analysis -- from the initial problem of design through choice of correlation coefficient, factor extraction, factor rotation, factor interpretation, and writing up results. This revised edition includes introductions to newer methods -- such as confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling -- that have revolutionized factor analysis in recent years. To help remove some of the mystery underlying these newer, more complex methods, the introductory examples utilize EQS and LISREL. Updated material relating to the validation of the Comrey Personality Scales also has been added. Finally, program disks for running factor analyses on either an IBM-compatible PC or a mainframe with FORTRAN capabilities are available. The intended audience for this volume includes talented but mathematically unsophisticated advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and research workers seeking to acquire a basic understanding of the principles supporting factor analysis. Disks are available in 5.25" and 3.5" formats for both mainframe programs written in Fortran and IBM PCs and compatibles running a math co-processor.

This book provides a non-mathematical introduction to the theory and application of Exploratory Factor Analysis. Among the issues discussed are the use of confirmatory versus exploratory factor analysis, the use of principal components analysis versus common factor analysis, and procedures for determining the appropriate number of factors.

Annotation Structural equation modeling (SEM) has become one of the most important statistical procedures in the social and behavioral sciences. This easy-to-understand guide makes SEM accessible to all userseven those whose training in statistics is limited or who have never used SAS. It gently guides users through the basics of using SAS and shows how to perform some of the most sophisticated data-analysis procedures used by researchers: exploratory factor analysis, path analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. It shows how to perform analyses with user-friendly PROC CALIS, and offers solutions for problems often encountered in real-world research. This second edition contains new material on sample-size estimation for path analysis and structural equation modeling. In a single user-friendly volume, students and researchers will find all the information they need in order to master SAS basics before moving on to factor analysis, path analysis, and other advanced statistical procedures.

First Published in 1985. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Providing a practical, thorough understanding of how factor analysis works, Foundations of Factor Analysis, Second Edition discusses the assumptions underlying the equations and procedures of this method. It also explains the options in commercial computer programs for performing factor analysis and structural equation modeling. This long-awaited e