Unidimensional factor models imply weaker partial correlations than zero-order correlations

DOI10.1007/S11336-018-9607-ZzbMATH Open1391.62291arXiv1610.03375OpenAlexW2530735475WikidataQ52682097 ScholiaQ52682097MaRDI QIDQ725296FDOQ725296

Authors: Riet van Bork, Raoul P. P. P. Grasman, Lourens J. Waldorp 

Publication date: 1 August 2018

Published in: Psychometrika (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: In a unidimensional factor model it is assumed that the set of indicators that loads on this factor are conditionally independent given the latent factor. Two indicators are, however, never conditionally independent given (a set of) other indicators that load on this factor, as this would require one of the indicators that is conditioned on to correlate one with the latent factor. Although partial correlations between two indicators given the other indicators can thus never equal zero (Holland and Rosenbaum, 1986), we show in this paper that the partial correlations do need to be always weaker than the zero-order correlations. More precisely, we prove that the partial correlation between two observed variables that load on one factor given all other observed variables that load on this factor, is always closer to zero than the zero-order correlation between these two variables.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1610.03375

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zbMATH Keywords

factor modelspartial correlationszero-order correlations

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Applications of statistics to psychology (62P15)

Cites Work

• Adjustment of an Inverse Matrix Corresponding to a Change in One Element of a Given Matrix
• Conditional association and unidimensionality in monotone latent variable models
• Model Selection and Model Averaging
• Testing the conditional independence and monotonicity assumptions of item response theory
• An inequality for correlations in unidimensional monotone latent variable models for binary variables
• Image theory for the structure of quantitative variates
• Multiple rectilinear prediction and the resolution into components
• The manifest association structure of the single-factor model: insights from partial correlations

Cited In (2)

• The manifest association structure of the single-factor model: insights from partial correlations
• On the Correlation of Common Factors with Variance Not Accounted for by the Factor Model

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