Deck 18: Exploratory Factor Analysis

Question 1

If you want to discover what the underlying structure is in your test, Shultz, Whitney, and Zickar (2021) recommend using the following technique?

A) Principal Component Analysis
B) Multiple Regression
C) Exploratory Factor Analysis
D) Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Answer 1

C,B

Question 2

Which of the following techniques uses linear combinations of observed items to determine a test's structure?

A) Principal Components Analysis
B) Canonical Correlation Analysis
C) Exploratory Factor Analysis
D) Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which is the ratio of cases to items that is recommended as a minimum sample size within Shultz, Whitney, and Zickar (2021)? 

A) 1 person per 5 items
B) 10 persons per 1 item
C) 5 persons per 1 item
D) 25 persons per 1 item

Answer 3

C

Question 4

What is the graphical technique that can be used to identify the number of factors to retain from an exploratory factor analysis?

A) Scree plot
B) Factor inversion matrix
C) Kaiser graph
D) Killian represenation

Question 5

A top way of determining the number of factors to retain is generating a random set of cases that have a similar number of items to your target data set. You then compare the magnitude of eigen values in your random data set to the magnitude of eigen values in your real data set to see at what point the random data has larger values than the real data set. This technique is called _____.

A) Modified eigen vector comparison
B) Parallel analysis
C) Goodness of fit analysis
D) Rotation analysis

Question 6

The regression between the item score and the underlying factors is called a(n) ______.

A) residual
B) eigen value
C) factor loading
D) factor coefficient

Question 7

Oblique rotations have ______ factors, whereas orthogonal rotations result in ___ factors.

A) complex; simple
B) simple; complex
C) correlated; uncorrelated
D) uncorrelated; correlated

Question 8

Which of the following practices do Shultz, Whitney, and Zickar (2021) recommend with respect to exploratory factor analysis?

A) Use an oblique rotation
B) Do not use exploratory factor analysis when you can do a confirmatory factor analysis
C) Conduct principal components analysis if your sample size is small
D) Standard Error of Prediction

Question 9

In exploratory factor analysis, what is the term that refers to the variance in an item that is not shared with any other items?

A) Uniqueness
B) Error
C) Specific variance
D) Randomness

Question 10

What is the mathematical procedure that is used in exploratory factory analysis that is designed to choose an interpretable factor pattern matrix?

A) transformation
B) rotation
C) regeneration
D) inversion

Question 11

What are strategies that can be used in exploratory factor analysis to help improve interpretability?

Question 12

When should exploratory factor analysis be used compared to confirmatory factor analysis?

Question 13

Explain the main steps and decisions that need to be made when conducting an EFA.

Question 14

Shultz, Whitney, and Zickar (2021) recommend an oblique rotation over an orthogonal rotation. Explain the differences between the two and explain their rationale.

Question 15

How should exploratory factor analysis be used in scale development?