FACTOR-ANALYSIS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND REFINEMENT OF CLINICAL-ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS

The goals of both exploratory and confirmatory Factor analysis are des cribed and procedural guidelines for each approach are summarized, emp hasizing the use of factor analysis in developing and refining clinica l measures. For exploratory factor analysis, a rationale is presented for selecting between principal components analysis and common factor analysis depending on whether the research goal involves either identi fication of latent constructs or data reduction. Confirmatory factor a nalysis using structural equation modeling is described for use in val idating the dimensional structure of a measure. Additionally, the uses of confirmatory factor analysis for assessing the invariance of measu res across samples and for evaluating multitrait-multimethod data are also briefly described. Suggestions are offered For handling common pr oblems with item-level data. and examples illustrating potential diffi culties with confirming dimensional structures from initial explorator y analyses are reviewed.