Factor Analysis

SPSS for Windows

Intermediate & Advanced Applied Statistics

Zayed University Office of Research SPSS for Windows

Workshop Series
Presented by

Dr. Maher Khelifa
Associate Professor
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
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Understanding Factor Analysis
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This workshop discusses factor analysis as an
exploratory and confirmatory multivariate
technique.

Understanding Factor Analysis
Factor analysis is commonly used in:
Data reduction
Scale development
The evaluation of the psychometric quality of a measure, and
The assessment of the dimensionality of a set of variables.

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Understanding Factor Analysis
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Regardless of purpose, factor analysis is used in:
the determination of a small number of factors based on a
particular number of inter-related quantitative variables.

Unlike variables directly measured such as speed,
height, weight, etc., some variables such as egoism,
creativity, happiness, religiosity, comfort are not a
single measurable entity.

They are constructs that are derived from the
measurement of other, directly observable variables .



Understanding Factor Analysis
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Constructs are usually defined as unobservable latent variables. E.g.:
motivation/love/hate/care/altruism/anxiety/worry/stress/product
quality/physical aptitude/democracy /reliability/power.


Example: the construct of teaching effectiveness. Several variables
are used to allow the measurement of such construct (usually several
scale items are used) because the construct may include several
dimensions.

Factor analysis measures not directly observable constructs by
measuring several of its underlying dimensions.

The identification of such underlying dimensions (factors) simplifies
the understanding and description of complex constructs.

Understanding Factor Analysis
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Generally, the number of factors is much smaller than the
number of measures.

Therefore, the expectation is that a factor represents a set of
measures.

From this angle, factor analysis is viewed as a data-
reduction technique as it reduces a large number of
overlapping variables to a smaller set of factors that reflect
construct(s) or different dimensions of contruct(s).
Understanding Factor Analysis
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The assumption of factor analysis is that underlying
dimensions (factors) can be used to explain complex
phenomena.

Observed correlations between variables result from
their sharing of factors.

Example: Correlations between a persons test scores
might be linked to shared factors such as general
intelligence, critical thinking and reasoning skills,
reading comprehension etc.
Ingredients of a Good Factor Analysis Solution
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A major goal of factor analysis is to represent
relationships among sets of variables parsimoniously
yet keeping factors meaningful.

A good factor solution is both simple and
interpretable.

When factors can be interpreted, new insights are
possible.

Application of Factor Analysis
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This workshop will examine three common
applications of factor analysis:
Defining indicators of constructs
Defining dimensions for an existing measure
Selecting items or scales to be included in a measure.
Application of Factor Analysis
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Defining indicators of constructs:

Ideally 4 or more measures should be chosen to represent each
construct of interest.

The choice of measures should, as much as possible, be guided by
theory, previous research, and logic.

Application of Factor Analysis
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Defining dimensions for an existing measure:
In this case the variables to be analyzed are chosen by the
initial researcher and not the person conducting the analysis.
Factor analysis is performed on a predetermined set of
items/scales.
Results of factor analysis may not always be satisfactory:
The items or scales may be poor indicators of the construct or
constructs.
There may be too few items or scales to represent each underlying
dimension.
Application of Factor Analysis
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Selecting items or scales to be included in a measure.
Factor analysis may be conducted to determine what items or
scales should be included and excluded from a measure.
Results of the analysis should not be used alone in making
decisions of inclusions or exclusions. Decisions should be
taken in conjunction with the theory and what is known about
the construct(s) that the items or scales assess.
Steps in Factor Analysis
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Factor analysis usually proceeds in four steps:
1
st
Step: the correlation matrix for all variables is computed
2
nd
Step: Factor extraction
3
rd
Step: Factor rotation
4
th
Step: Make final decisions about the number of underlying
factors
Steps in Factor Analysis:
The Correlation Matrix
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1
st
Step: the correlation matrix
Generate a correlation matrix for all variables
Identify variables not related to other variables
If the correlation between variables are small, it is unlikely that
they share common factors (variables must be related to each
other for the factor model to be appropriate).
Think of correlations in absolute value.
Correlation coefficients greater than 0.3 in absolute value are
indicative of acceptable correlations.
Examine visually the appropriateness of the factor model.
Steps in Factor Analysis:
The Correlation Matrix
Bartlett Test of Sphericity:
used to test the hypothesis the correlation matrix is an identity matrix
(all diagonal terms are 1 and all off-diagonal terms are 0).

If the value of the test statistic for sphericity is large and the
associated significance level is small, it is unlikely that the
population correlation matrix is an identity.

If the hypothesis that the population correlation matrix is an identity
cannot be rejected because the observed significance level is large,
the use of the factor model should be reconsidered.

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Steps in Factor Analysis:
The Correlation Matrix
The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy:
is an index for comparing the magnitude of the observed correlation
coefficients to the magnitude of the partial correlation coefficients.

The closer the KMO measure to 1 indicate a sizeable sampling adequacy
(.8 and higher are great, .7 is acceptable, .6 is mediocre, less than .5 is
unaccaptable ).

Reasonably large values are needed for a good factor analysis. Small KMO
values indicate that a factor analysis of the variables may not be a good
idea.
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Steps in Factor Analysis:
Factor Extraction
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2
nd
Step: Factor extraction
The primary objective of this stage is to determine the factors.
Initial decisions can be made here about the number of factors
underlying a set of measured variables.
Estimates of initial factors are obtained using Principal components
analysis.
The principal components analysis is the most commonly used
extraction method . Other factor extraction methods include:
Maximum likelihood method
Principal axis factoring
Alpha method
Unweighted lease squares method
Generalized least square method
Image factoring.
Steps in Factor Analysis:
Factor Extraction
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In principal components analysis, linear combinations of
the observed variables are formed.

The 1
st
principal component is the combination that accounts
for the largest amount of variance in the sample (1
st

extracted factor).

The 2
nd
principle component accounts for the next largest
amount of variance and is uncorrelated with the first (2
nd

extracted factor).

Successive components explain progressively smaller portions
of the total sample variance, and all are uncorrelated with
each other.
Steps in Factor Analysis:
Factor Extraction
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To decide on how many factors we
need to represent the data, we use
2 statistical criteria:
Eigen Values, and
The Scree Plot.

The determination of the number
of factors is usually done by
considering only factors with
Eigen values greater than 1.

Factors with a variance less than 1
are no better than a single
variable, since each variable is
expected to have a variance of 1.

Total Variance Explained
Comp
onent
Initial Eigenvalues
Extraction Sums of Squared
Loadings
Total
% of
Variance
Cumulativ
e % Total
% of
Variance
Cumulativ
e %
1 3.046 30.465 30.465 3.046 30.465 30.465
2 1.801 18.011 48.476 1.801 18.011 48.476
3 1.009 10.091 58.566 1.009 10.091 58.566
4 .934 9.336 67.902
5 .840 8.404 76.307
6 .711 7.107 83.414
7 .574 5.737 89.151
8 .440 4.396 93.547
9 .337 3.368 96.915
10 .308 3.085 100.000
Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis.
Steps in Factor Analysis:
Factor Extraction
The examination of the Scree plot provides a
visual of the total variance associated with
each factor.

The steep slope shows the large factors.

The gradual trailing off (scree) shows the rest
of the factors usually lower than an Eigen
value of 1.

In choosing the number of factors, in addition
to the statistical criteria, one should make
initial decisions based on conceptual and
theoretical grounds.

At this stage, the decision about the number of
factors is not final.

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Steps in Factor Analysis:
Factor Extraction
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Component Matrix
a

Component
1 2 3
I discussed my frustrations and feelings with person(s) in school .771 -.271 .121
I tried to develop a step-by-step plan of action to remedy the problems .545 .530 .264
I expressed my emotions to my family and close friends .580 -.311 .265
I read, attended workshops, or sought someother educational approach to correct the
problem
.398 .356 -.374
I tried to be emotionally honest with my self about the problems .436 .441 -.368
I sought advice from others on how I should solve the problems .705 -.362 .117
I explored the emotions caused by the problems .594 .184 -.537
I took direct action to try to correct the problems .074 .640 .443
I told someone I could trust about how I felt about the problems .752 -.351 .081
I put aside other activities so that I could work to solve the problems .225 .576 .272
Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis.
a. 3 components extracted.
Component Matrix using Principle Component Analysis
Steps in Factor Analysis:
Factor Rotation
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3
rd
Step: Factor rotation.
In this step, factors are rotated.

Un-rotated factors are typically not very interpretable
(most factors are correlated with may variables).

Factors are rotated to make them more meaningful and
easier to interpret (each variable is associated with a
minimal number of factors).

Different rotation methods may result in the
identification of somewhat different factors.
Steps in Factor Analysis:
Factor Rotation
The most popular rotational method is Varimax rotations.

Varimax use orthogonal rotations yielding uncorrelated
factors/components.

Varimax attempts to minimize the number of variables that have high
loadings on a factor. This enhances the interpretability of the factors.


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Steps in Factor Analysis:
Factor Rotation
Other common rotational method used include Oblique rotations
which yield correlated factors.

Oblique rotations are less frequently used because their results are
more difficult to summarize.

Other rotational methods include:
Quartimax (Orthogonal)
Equamax (Orthogonal)
Promax (oblique)
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Steps in Factor Analysis:
Factor Rotation
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A factor is interpreted or named by examining the largest values linking the
factor to the measured variables in the rotated factor matrix.
Rotated Component Matrix
a

Component
1 2 3
I discussed my frustrations and feelings with person(s) in school .803 .186 .050
I tried to develop a step-by-step plan of action to remedy the problems .270 .304 .694
I expressed my emotions to my family and close friends .706 -.036 .059
I read, attended workshops, or sought someother educational approach to
correct the problem
.050 .633 .145
I tried to be emotionally honest with my self about the problems .042 .685 .222
I sought advice from others on how I should solve the problems .792 .117 -.038
I explored the emotions caused by the problems .248 .782 -.037
I took direct action to try to correct the problems -.120 -.023 .772
I told someone I could trust about how I felt about the problems .815 .172 -.040
I put aside other activities so that I could work to solve the problems -.014 .155 .657
Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis.
Rotation Method: Varimax with Kaiser Normalization.
a. Rotation converged in 5 iterations.
Steps in Factor Analysis:
Making Final Decisions
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4
th
Step: Making final decisions
The final decision about the number of factors to choose is the number of
factors for the rotated solution that is most interpretable.
To identify factors, group variables that have large loadings for the same
factor.
Plots of loadings provide a visual for variable clusters.
Interpret factors according to the meaning of the variables

This decision should be guided by:
A priori conceptual beliefs about the number of factors from past research or
theory
Eigen values computed in step 2.
The relative interpretability of rotated solutions computed in step 3.
Assumptions Underlying Factor Analysis
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Assumption underlying factor analysis include.
The measured variables are linearly related to the factors + errors.
This assumption is likely to be violated if items limited response scales
(two-point response scale like True/False, Right/Wrong items).
The data should have a bi-variate normal distribution for each pair of
variables.
Observations are independent.
The factor analysis model assumes that variables are determined by
common factors and unique factors. All unique factors are assumed
to be uncorrelated with each other and with the common factors.

Obtaining a Factor Analysis
Click:
Analyze and
select
Dimension
Reduction
Factor
A factor
Analysis Box
will appear
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Obtaining a Factor Analysis
Move
variables/scale
items to
Variable box
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Obtaining a Factor Analysis
Factor
extraction
When
variables
are in
variable
box,
select:
Extractio
n
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Obtaining a Factor Analysis
When the factor
extraction Box
appears, select:
Scree Plot

keep all default
selections
including:
Principle component
Analysis
Based on Eigen Value
of 1, and
Un-rotated factor
solution
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Obtaining a Factor Analysis
During
factor
extraction
keep
factor
rotation
default of:
None
Press
continue
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Obtaining a Factor Analysis
During Factor
Rotation:
Decide on the
number of factors
based on actor
extraction phase
and enter the
desired number of
factors by choosing:
Fixed number of
factors and
entering the
desired number of
factors to extract.
Under Rotation
Choose Varimax
Press continue
Then OK
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