Exploratory factor analysis: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:50, 6 October 2020

Revision as of 08:32, 6 October 2020

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===Orthogonal rotation===

Orthogonal rotations constrain factors to be uncorrelated.[[perpendicular]] Varimaxto iseach considered the best orthogonal rotationother and consequentlyhence is used the most often in psychology research[[Correlation_and_dependence#Uncorrelatedness_and_independence_of_stochastic_processes|uncorrelated]].<ref name =Fabrigar/> An advantage of orthogonal rotation is its simplicity and conceptual clarity, although there are several disadvantages. In the social sciences, there is often a theoretical basis for expecting constructs to be correlated, therefore orthogonal rotations may not be very realistic because they do not allow this. Also, because orthogonal rotations require factors to be uncorrelated, they are less likely to produce solutions with simple structure.<ref name =Fabrigar/>

[[Varimax rotation]] is an orthogonal rotation of the factor axes to maximize the variance of the squared loadings of a factor (column) on all the variables (rows) in a factor matrix, which has the effect of differentiating the original variables by extracted factor. Each factor will tend to have either large or small loadings of any particular variable. A varimax solution yields results which make it as easy as possible to identify each variable with a single factor. This is the most common orthogonal rotation option.<ref name =Fabrigar/>

Quartimax rotation is an orthogonal rotation that maximizes the squared loadings for each variable rather than each factor. This minimizes the number of factors needed to explain each variable. This type of rotation often generates a general factor on which most variables are loaded to a high or medium degree.<ref name=Neuhaus>{{cite journal|last=Neuhaus|first=Jack O|author2=Wrigley, C.|title=The Quartimax Method|journal=British Journal of Statistical Psychology|date=1954|volume=7|issue=2|pages=81-91|doi=10.1111/j.2044-8317.1954.tb00147.x}}</ref>

Equimax rotation is a compromise between varimax and quartimax criteria.

===Oblique rotation===