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Factor Analysis

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Abstract

Frequently, empirical studies rely on a wide variety of variables—so-called item batteries—to describe a certain state of affairs. An example for such a collection of variables is the study of preferred toothpaste attributes by Malhotra (2010, p. 639). Thirty people were asked the questions in Fig. 13.1.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A discussion of the anti-image covariance matrix (AIC) lies beyond the scope of this book, though most software programmes are able to calculate it.

  2. 2.

    There are other rotation methods in addition to varimax, e.g. quartimax, equamax, promax, and oblimin. Even within varimax rotation, different calculation methods can be used, yielding minor (and usually insignificant) differences in the results.

  3. 3.

    prevent cavities: agree = 6 → z = 1.04; whiten teeth: agree = 2 → z = −1.38; strengthen gums, totally agree = 7 → z = (1.41); freshen breath, neither agree or disagree = 4 → z = (−0.07); not prevent tooth decay, totally disagree = 1 → z = (−1.31); make teeth attractive, somewhat disagree = 3 → z = (−0.84).

References

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Cleff, T. (2019). Factor Analysis. In: Applied Statistics and Multivariate Data Analysis for Business and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17767-6_13

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