A Class of Simple Methods for Exploratory Structural Analysis

1981 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Pruzek ◽  
Stanley N. Rabinowitz
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Maximum Likelihood ◽  
Structural Analysis ◽  
Hypothesis Testing ◽  
Computational Efficiency ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Prior Beliefs ◽  
Psychological Variables ◽  
Testing Procedures ◽  
Maximum Likelihood Factor Analysis

Simple modifications of principal component methods are described that have distinct advantages for structural analysis of relations among educational and psychological variables. Advantages include the provision for the incorporation of prior beliefs about errors in the variables, computational efficiency, tractability for large battery analysis, and the availability of hypothesis testing procedures. The methods are contrasted theoretically and empirically with conventional principal component methods and with maximum likelihood factor analysis.

Validity of Higher-Order Ability Constructs in Structure-of-Intellect Tests All Involving Semantic Content and Operations of Cognition or Evaluation: A Confirmatory Maximum Likelihood Factor Analysis

1985 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Mace ◽  
William B. Michael ◽  
Dennis Hocevar
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Maximum Likelihood ◽  
Semantic Content ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Maximum Likelihood Factor Analysis ◽  
Practical Standpoint ◽  
Order Factor ◽  
Structure Of Intellect

Through use of confirmatory maximum likelihood factor analysis in conjunction with the LISREL V computer program devised by Jöreskog and Sörbom, an evaluation was made of the validity of higher-order ability constructs in structure-of-intellect tests all containing semantic content and operations of cognition or evaluation. The hypothesized first-, second-, and third-order factors were all reproducible with every one of the estimated factor loadings being significant beyond the .01 level. Although the first- and second-order factors were shown to be reproducible and statistically separable, the high intercorrelations among the six first-order product factors and the two second-order operations factors would suggest from a practical standpoint that the single third-order factor of semantic content would constitute a plausible alternative for accounting for much of the covariance among the test variables.

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