Exploratory Factor analysis - Process Factor Analysis - Construct correlation matrix

3 important questions on Exploratory Factor analysis - Process Factor Analysis - Construct correlation matrix

What do KMO and Barlett's test measure?

KMO measures whether the sample adequately represents the population.


Bartlett's test shows whether the correlation matrix observed is significantly different from the identity matrix. So, in other words: when there is a significant variation.

What is the identity matrix?

An identity matrix is a matrix in which you have the 1 on the diagonal and 0 on the off-diagonal. Every item perfectly correlates with itself, and does not correlate at all with the other items. So, no inter-item correlation. Instead, you want the items to correlate with each other to do factor analysis.

When there is a high factor loading, then it contributes much of its meaning to the factor. What is the difference between the commonalities and the eigenvalues when squaring the factor loadings?

Commonalities; extend to which an item is represented by the factor. (rows)

Eigenvalues; extend to which the factor is represented by the items. (columns)

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