Factor Analysis (Noun)
Meaning
Any of several methods for reducing correlational data to a smaller number of dimensions or factors; beginning with a correlation matrix a small number of components or factors are extracted that are regarded as the basic variables that account for the interrelations observed in the data.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The researcher used factor analysis to identify the underlying patterns in the survey data and reduce the number of variables to a more manageable set.
- Factor analysis revealed that the test scores were influenced by a combination of cognitive ability and motivation, rather than a single underlying factor.
- The marketing team applied factor analysis to the customer feedback data to identify the key drivers of customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- The psychologist used exploratory factor analysis to identify the underlying dimensions of personality that were reflected in the responses to the questionnaire.
- The data analyst applied confirmatory factor analysis to test the hypothesis that the observed variables were related to a specific set of underlying factors.