Abstract

The uses and methodology of factor analysis are widely debated and discussed, especially the issues of rotational use, methods of confirmatory factor analysis, and adequate sample size. The variety of perspectives and often conflicting opinions can lead to confusion among researchers about best practices for using factor analysis. The focus of the present review is to clarify terminology, identify key issues, and clarify areas of debate regarding best practices and functions of factor analytic procedures., The conclusions and implications drawn should be useful to researchers in education, psychology, and cognate social fields who employ factor analytic procedures or evaluate research using factor analytic methods. Accessed 27,993 times on https://pareonline.net from March 05, 2013 to December 31, 2019. For downloads from January 1, 2020 forward, please click on the PlumX Metrics link to the right.

Keywords

Exploratory factor analysisFactor (programming language)Computer sciencePsychologyData scienceStructural equation modelingMachine learningProgramming language

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Publication Info

Year
2020
Type
article
Volume
18
Issue
6
Pages
1-13
Citations
1242
Access
Closed

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Amy S. Beavers, John W. Lounsbury, Jennifer Richards et al. (2020). Practical Considerations for Using Exploratory Factor Analysis in Educational Research. Scholarworks (University of Massachusetts Amherst) , 18 (6) , 1-13. https://doi.org/10.7275/qv2q-rk76

Identifiers

DOI
10.7275/qv2q-rk76