A Step-by-step Guide to Exploratory Factor Analysis With Stata

✍ Scribed by Marley W. Watkins

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2021
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 209
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This is a concise, easy to use, step-by-step guide for applied researchers conducting exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using Stata.

In this book, Dr. Watkins systematically reviews each decision step in EFA with screen shots of Stata code and recommends evidence-based best practice procedures. This is an eminently applied, practical approach with few or no formulas and is aimed at readers with little to no mathematical background. Dr. Watkins maintains an accessible tone throughout and uses minimal jargon and formula to help facilitate grasp of the key issues users will face when applying EFA, along with how to implement, interpret, and report results. Copious scholarly references and quotations are included to support the reader in responding to editorial reviews.

This is a valuable resource for upper level undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as for more experienced researchers undertaking multivariate or structure equation modeling courses across the behavioral, medical, and social sciences.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Endorsement
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Figures
Preface
1 Introduction
Historical Foundations
Conceptual Foundations
Graphical Displays and Vocabulary
2 Data
Dataset 1
Dataset 2
Dataset 3
Dataset 4
Dataset 5
Dataset 6
3 Stata Software
Stata
Stata Windows
Stata Commands
Commands Versus Do-Files
Stata Files
Help
4 Importing and Saving Data
Importing Data
Importing a Correlation Matrix
Saving Data
Data Management
5 Decision Steps in Exploratory Factor Analysis
6 Step 1: Variables to Include
Psychometric Properties
Marker Variables
Formative Versus Effect Indicators
Number of Variables
Statistical Issues
Report
7 Step 2: Participants
Characteristics of Participants
Number of Participants
Report
8 Step 3: Data Screening
Assumptions
Restricted Score Range
Linearity
Data Distributions
Outliers
Missing Data
Report
9 Step 4: Is Exploratory Factor Analysis Appropriate?
Report
10 Step 5: Factor Analysis Model
Report
11 Step 6: Factor Extraction Method
Data Space
Factor Space
Eigenvalues, Variance, and Communality
Extraction Methods
Report
12 Step 7: How Many Factors to Retain
Empirical Guidelines
Parallel Analysis
Minimum Average Partial
Scree Plot
Other Empirical Guidelines
Summary of Empirical Guidelines
Empirical Criteria With Stata
Scree Plot
Parallel Analysis
Minimum Average Partial
Theoretical Knowledge
Model Selection
Report
13 Step 8: Rotate Factors
Orthogonal Versus Oblique Rotation
Oblique Parameters
Factor Loadings
Eigenvalues and Variance Extracted
Report
14 Step 9: Interpret Exploratory Factor Analysis Results
Model Selection Guidelines
Report
Model Evaluation
Model 3
Model 2
Model 1
Factor Names
Report
15 Step 10: Report Exploratory Factor Analysis Results
Factor Scores
Cautions
16 Exploratory Factor Analysis With Categorical Variables
Data
Participants
Data Screening
Pearson Versus Polychoric Correlations
Outliers
Is EFA Appropriate?
Factor Analysis Model
Factor Extraction Method
How Many Factors to Retain
Rotate Factors
Interpret Results
17 Higher-Order and Bifactor Models
Higher-Order Models
Schmid–Leiman Transformation of Higher-Order Models
Bifactor Models
Alternative Measures of Reliability
18 Exploratory Versus Confirmatory Factor Analysis
CFA Model Fit
CFA Model Respecification
CFA Model Assumptions
Exploratory Use of CFA
EFA Versus CFA
19 Practice Exercises
Exercise 1
Data
Variables Included
Participants
Are the Data Appropriate?
Is EFA Appropriate?
What Model of Factor Analysis Was Employed?
What Factor Extraction Method Was Used?
How Many Factors Were Retained?
What Factor Rotation Was Applied?
Interpretation of Results
Report Results
Exercise 1 Report
Method
Results
Exercise 2
Data
Questions to Answer
References and Resources
Index