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- Title
THE APPLICATION OF EXPLORATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: A CRITICAL REVIEW AND ANALYSIS.
- Authors
Ford, J. Kevin; MacCallum, Robert C.; Tait, Marianne
- Abstract
Although factor analysis has been a major contributing factor in advancing psychological research, a systematic assessment of how it has been applied is lacking. For this review we examined the Journal of Applied Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, and Personnel Psychology over a ten-year period (1975-1984) and located 152 studies that employed factor analysis. We then analyzed the choices made by the researchers concerning factor model, retention criteria, rotation, interpretation of factors and other issues relevant to factor analysis. The results indicate that choices made by researchers have generally been poor and that reporting practices have not allowed for informed review, cumulation of results, or replicability. A comparison of results by time interval (1975-1979; 1980-1984) revealed minimal differences in choices made or the quality of reporting practices. Suggestions for improving the use of factor analysis and the reporting of results are presented.
- Subjects
ORGANIZATIONAL behavior; PSYCHOLOGICAL research; INDUSTRIAL psychology; FACTOR analysis; APPLIED psychology; EMPLOYEE attitudes; JOB rotation; ORGANIZATIONAL change; RESEARCH
- Publication
Personnel Psychology, 1986, Vol 39, Issue 2, p291
- ISSN
0031-5826
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1744-6570.1986.tb00583.x