Abstract
A meta-analysis of two factor analysis outcome measures, the percentage of variance accounted for and the average (absolute) factor loading, in 803 substantive factor analyses was undertaken. The average percentage of variance accounted for was 56.6%, and the average (absolute) factor loading was 0.32. Number of variables factor analyzed, nature of the sample from which data were collected, sample size, number of factors extracted, and (minimal) number of scale categories employed influenced the percentage of variance accounted for in a factor analysis. Number of factors extracted, analytical approach, and number of variables analyzed influenced the average factor loading obtained in a factor analysis. Factor analysis of synthetic (random) data possessing the general structure as the observed data in the meta-analysis accounted for 50.2% of the variance in the data and produced an average factor loading of 0.21. The latter figures imply that many factor analyses have produced outcome measures of questionable meaningfulness.
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Peterson, R.A. A Meta-Analysis of Variance Accounted for and Factor Loadings in Exploratory Factor Analysis. Marketing Letters 11, 261–275 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008191211004
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008191211004