ERIC Number: EJ1457457
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Feb
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-1644
EISSN: EISSN-1552-3888
Improving the Use of Parallel Analysis by Accounting for Sampling Variability of the Observed Correlation Matrix
Yan Xia; Xinchang Zhou
Educational and Psychological Measurement, v85 n1 p114-133 2025
Parallel analysis has been considered one of the most accurate methods for determining the number of factors in factor analysis. One major advantage of parallel analysis over traditional factor retention methods (e.g., Kaiser's rule) is that it addresses the sampling variability of eigenvalues obtained from the identity matrix, representing the correlation matrix for a zero-factor model. This study argues that we should also address the sampling variability of eigenvalues obtained from the observed data, such that the results would inform practitioners of the variability of the number of factors across random samples. Thus, this study proposes to revise the parallel analysis to provide the proportion of random samples that suggest k factors (k = 0, 1, 2, . . .) rather than a single suggested number. Simulation results support the use of the proposed strategy, especially for research scenarios with limited sample sizes where sampling fluctuation is concerning.
Descriptors: Factor Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Evaluation Methods, Sampling, Sample Size, Psychometrics, Simulation, Correlation, Matrices
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A