METAPHOR TAKEN AS MATH - INDETERMINACY IN THE FACTOR-ANALYSIS MODEL

The issue of indeterminacy in the factor analysis model has been the s ource of a lengthy and on-going debate. This debate can be seen as fea turing two relevant interpretations of indeterminacy. The alternative solution position considers the latent common factor to be a random va riate whose properties are determined by functional constraints inhere nt in the model. When the model fits the data, an infinity of random v ariates are criterially latent common factors to the set of manifest v ariates analyzed. The posterior moment position considers the latent c ommon factor to be a single random entity with a non-point posterior d istribution, given the manifest variables. It is argued here that: (a) The issue of indeterminacy centres on the criterion for the claim ''X is a latent common factor to Y''; (b) the alternative solution positi on is correct, the posterior moment position representing a conflation of the criterion, which is provided by the equations of the model, wi th metaphors, analogies, and senses of ''factor'' that are external to the model. A number of implications for applied work involving factor analysis are discussed.