The Influence of Communality, Factor Strength, and Loading Size on the Sampling Characteristics of Factor Loadings

A Monte Carlo approach was employed in determining whether or not certain variables produce systematic effects on the sampling variability of individual factor loadings by generating a number of sample correlation matrices from a specified population.

Abstract

A Monte Carlo approach is employed in determining whether or not certain variables produce systematic effects on the sampling variability of individual factor loadings. A number of sample correlation matrices were generated from a specified population, factored, and transformed to a least-squares fit to the population values. Influences of factor strength, communality and loading size are discussed in relation to the statistics summarizing the results of the above procedures. Influences producing biased estimators of the population values are also discussed.