Exploratory Factor Analysis in Two Measurement Journals: Hegemony by Default

Abstract

Exploratory factor analysis studies in two prominent measurement journals were explored. Issues addressed were: (a) factor extraction methods, (b) factor retention rules, (c) factor rotation strategies, and (d) saliency criteria for including variables. Many authors continue to use principal components extraction, orthogonal (varimax) rotation, and retain factors with eigenvalues greater than 1.0.