English

Noun

factor analysis ‎(countable and uncountable, plural factor analyses)

1. (uncountable, statistics) A statistical method used to describe variability among observed correlated variables in terms of one or more unobserved variables (called factors).
   • 1993, Richard A. Reyment, K. G. Jöreskog, Applied Factor Analysis in the Natural Sciences, page 71,

     Factor analysis is a generic term that we use to describe a number of methods designed to analyze interrelationships within a set of variables or objects.

   • 2005, Nancy L. Leech, Karen Caplovitz Barrett, George Arthur Morgan, SPSS for Intermediate Statistics: Use and Interpretation, page 88,

     Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and principal components analysis (PCA) both are methods that are used to help investigators represent a large number of relationships among interval-level variables in a simpler (more parsimonious) way.

   • 2007, Melanie M. Wall, Yasuo Amemiya, Chapter 16: A Review of Nonlinear Factor Analysis and Nonlinear Structural Equation Modeling, Robert Cudeck, Robert C. MacCallum (editors), Factor Analysis at 100: Historical Developments and Future Directions, unnumbered page,

     Hence, the idea of nonlinear factor analysis should not be treated as an extension of the basic factor analysis concept, but should be considered as an inherent effort to make factor analysis more complete and useful.

2. (countable, statistics) A statistical study performed using the method.
   • 1999, Jacquelynne S. Eccles, Allan Wigfield, In the Mind of the Actor: The Structure of Adolescents' Achievement Task Values and Expectancy-Related Beliefs, Richard M. Lerner, Jasna Jovanovic (editors), Cognitive and Moral Development and Academic Achievement in Adolescence, page 219,

     Separate exploratory factor analyses using an oblique rotation were conducted on the item sets measuring task values, task difficulty perceptions, and ability perceptions.

   • 2008, Nina K. Müller-Schwarze, When the Rivers Run Backwards, page 368,

     The factor analyses clearly showed significant vectors where variables of campesino identity are related.

   • 2010, Nicole Nicotera, Inna Altschul, Andrew Schneider-Munoz, Ben Webman, Conceptual and Analytic Development of a Civic Engagement Scale for Preadolescents, Jeff Keshen, Barbara A. Holland, Barbara E. Moely (editors), Research for What?: Making Engaged Scholarship Matter, page 81,

     Consequently, exploratory factor analyses were utilized to identify a factor structure represented by the survey items.

See also

• regression analysis