Introduction to Exploratory Factor Analysis

Sellbon, Martin und Goretzko, David (2023): Introduction to Exploratory Factor Analysis. An Applied Approach. In: Nichols, Austin Lee und Edlund, John E. (eds.) : The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology, Vol. 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 513-534

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) from an applied perspective. We start with a discussion of general issues and applications, including definitions of EFA and the underlying common factors model. We briefly cover history and general applications. The most substantive part of the chapter focuses on six steps of EFA. More specifically, we consider variable (or indicator) selection (Step 1), computing the variance–covariance matrix (Step 2), factor-extraction methods (Step 3), factor-retention procedures (Step 4), factor-rotation methods (Step 5), and interpretation (Step 6). We include a data analysis example throughout (with example code for R), with full details in an online supplement. We hope the chapter will provide helpful guidance to applied researchers in the social and behavioral sciences.

• Item Type: Book Section
• Faculties: Psychology and Education Science > Department Psychology > Psychological Methodology and Diagnostic
• Subjects: 100 Philosophy and Psychology > 150 Psychology
• ISBN: 978-1-108-99524-5 ; 978-1-316-51852-6 ; 978-1-00-901005-4
• Place of Publication: Cambridge
• Language: English