Skip to main content
Log in

The distribution of chance congruence coefficients from simulated data

  • Published:
Psychometrika Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

All attempts to study the stability of factors depend on having some useful statistic that measures the degree of similarity between factors. This study attempts to provide some normative data about the distribution of one measure of similarity, the congruence coefficient, through a Monte Carlo technique. The matching of “chance” factor patterns was done by the method of Tucker. Statistical tests of the results, based on similarities of the method to canonical and multiple correlation, seemed satisfactory. The tabled results can be used as guides to the significance of congruence coefficients for some cases. The consistencies of the data indicate that a functional resolution may be possible, but none was found.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Browne, M. W. On oblique procrustes rotation.Psychometrika, 1967,32, 125–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Browne, M., & Kristof, W. On the oblique rotation of a factor matrix to a specified pattern.Psychometrika, 1969,34, 237–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burt, C. Factor analysis and canonical correlations.British Journal of Psychology, Statistical Section, 1948,1, 95–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cattell, R. B.Personality and motivation, structure and measurement. Yonkers-on-Hudson, New York: World Book, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cattell, R. B., & Baggaley, A. R. The salient variable similary index for factor matching.British Journal of Statistical Psychology, 1960,13, 33–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cliff, N. Orthogonal rotation to congruence.Psychometrika, 1966,31, 33–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, G. T. Transformation of factor matrices to achieve congruence.British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, 1971,22, 24–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck, H. J.The structure of human personality. New York: Wiley, 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiske, D. The matching of factors.American Psychologist, 1948,3, 360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebhardt, F. Uber Die Ahnlickeit von Faktormatrizen (The similarity of factor matrices).Psychologische Beitrage, 1968,10, 591–599.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, B. F. The orthogonal approximation of an oblique structure in factor analysis.Psychometrika, 1952,17, 429–440.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gruvaeus, G. T. A general approach to procrustes pattern rotation.Psychometrika, 1970,4, 493–505.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guilford, J. P.Personality. New York: McGraw Hill, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, M. Factorial invariance of African educational abilities and aptitudes.Educational Testing Service Research Bulletin, 1969, 69–3.

  • Jöreskog, K. G. General approach to confirmatory maximum likelihood factor analysis.Psychometrika, 1969,34, 183–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korth, B. A. Analytic and experimental examination of factor matching methods. Unpublished dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1973.

  • Mosier, C. I. Determining a simple structure when loadings for certain tests are known.Psychometrika, 1939,4, 149–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nesselroade, J. R., & Baltes, P. B. On a dilemma of comparative factor analysis: A study of factor matching based on random data.Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1967,27, 305–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nesselroade, J. R., Baltes, P. B., & Labouvie, E. W. Evaluating factor invariance in oblique space: Baseline data generated from random numbers.Multivariate Behavioral Research, 1971,6, 233–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinneau, S. R., & Newhouse, A. Measures of invariance and comparability in factor analysis for fixed variables.Psychometrika, 1964,29, 271–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quereshi, M. Y. The invariance of certain ability factors.Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1967,27, 803–810.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rock, D. A., & Freeberg, N. E. Factorial invariance of biographical factors.Multivariate Behavioral Research, 1969,5, 195–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneewind, K. A., & Cattell, R. B. Zum problem der faktoridentifikation: Verteilungun und vertauensintervalle von kongruenzkoeffizienten fur personlichkeisfaktoren im bereich objektiv-analytischer tests.Psychologische Beitrage, 1970,12, 214–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schönemann, P. H. A generalized solution of the orthogonal Procrustes problem.Psychometrika, 1966,31, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schönemann, P. H., & Carroll, R. M. Fitting one matrix to another under choice of a central dilation and a rigid motion.Psychometrika, 1970,35, 245–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatsuoka, M. M.Multivariate Analysis. New York: Wiley, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, L. R. A method of synthesis of factor analysis studies.Personnel Research Section Report, No. 984, Washington, D. C., Department of the Army, 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wrigley, C., & Neuhaus, J. O. The matching of two sets of factors. Contract memorandum report, A-32. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1955.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Korth, B., Tucker, L.R. The distribution of chance congruence coefficients from simulated data. Psychometrika 40, 361–372 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291763

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291763

Keywords

Navigation