Understanding and Using Factor Scores: Considerations for the Applied Researcher

Christine DiStefano

Min Zhu

Diana Mîndrilă

University of South Carolina

Following an exploratory factor analysis, factor scores may be computed and used in subsequent analyses. Factor scores are composite variables which provide information about an individual’s placement on the factor(s). This article discusses popular methods to create factor scores under two different classes: refined and non-refined. Strengths and considerations of the various methods, and for using factor scores in general, are discussed.

http://pareonline.net/pdf/v14n20.pdf

http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/4267/how-to-calculate-composite-factor-scores-post-factor-analysis-for-a-questionnair