Practical Considerations for Using Exploratory Factor Analysis in Educational Research

Authors

Amy S. Beavers
John W. Lounsbury
Jennifer K. Richards
Schuyler W. Huck
Gary J. Skolits
Shelley L. Esquivel

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7275/qv2q-rk76

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.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Beavers, Amy S.; Lounsbury, John W.; Richards, Jennifer K.; Huck, Schuyler W.; Skolits, Gary J.; and Esquivel, Shelley L. (2019) "Practical Considerations for Using Exploratory Factor Analysis in Educational Research," Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation: Vol. 18, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7275/qv2q-rk76
Available at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/pare/vol18/iss1/6