No label defined (Q3984976)

Factor analysis, image component analysis, principal component analysis, alpha factor analysis, unweighted least squares and generalized least squares methods, and the maximum likelihood are server methods that have been employed for the same purpose. Factor analysis was traditionally viewed as the preferred method, with other methods serving as computationally easier approximations. Recently attention has been focused on theoretical problems with the factor analysis model such as the factor indeterminacy issue. In order to access the degree of similarity between the results produced by each of the seven methods, the patterns produced by principal component analysis, principal axis factoring, alpha factoring, image factoring, unweighted least squares, generalized least squares and maximum likelihood factor analysis are compared for a data set of system survey. Two different comparisons are considered: a direct loading by loading comparison of the patterns and three summary statistics defined on the matrix of differences between patterns. Comparisons are made for the patterns in both varimax rotational positions and a position without rotation.