Establishing Evidence for Internal Structure Using Exploratory Factor Analysis

ABSTRACT

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is a data reduction technique used to condense data into smaller sets of summary variables by identifying underlying factors potentially accounting for patterns of collinearity among said variables. Using an illustrative example, the 5 general steps of EFA are described with best practices for decision making provided.

KEYWORDS:

• Validity
• exploratory factor analysis
• instrument development

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joshua C. Watson

Joshua C. Watson is in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.