In factor analysis, which is a method of reducing a large number of variables into a smaller number of "factors," different methods of "rotation" can be used to find patterns in data. Each carries different assumptions about the data. So choosing the correct method of rotation is crucial to making the data easier to understand. Have a question? Get an answer from online tech support now!
Other People Are Reading
How to Read Factor Analysis How to Use Factor Analysis
Orthogonal Rotation
In an orthogonal rotation, the factors produced are uncorrelated, which makes the solutions it produces easier to interpret. In the July 2005 issue of "Practical Assessment, Research and Evaluation," Anna B. Costello and Jason W. Osborne reported that orthogonal rotation was used in more than half of the studies in a survey of the PsycINFO database. This is possibly because orthogonal is the default setting in most statistical analysis programs, but it is often not the most appropriate method.
Variables in a factor analysis are usually connected in some way. In the social sciences, for example, correlation among factors would be expected because researchers rarely study large numbers of completely independent aspects of human behavior at the same time. If the variables are correlated, oblique rotation should be used instead.
The three commonly used forms of orthogonal rotation are varimax, quartimax and equamax.
Varimax Rotation
Varimax rotation is the most commonly used method of orthogonal rotation. It maximizes the variance of factors across the variables, which produces a simpler solution. This is the default setting in most statistical programs, such as Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Statistical Analysis Systems (SAS).
Read more :
http://www.ehow.com/list_7450638_factor-analysis-rotation-methods.html