Varimax Factor Research Articles

Joint Factor Analysis of the Personality Research Form and the Jackson Personality Inventory: Comparisons with the Big Five

Personality Research Form (PRF) and Jackson Personality Inventory (JPI) scales were jointly factor analyzed on a sample of 528 respondents with the aim of comparing a five-factor solution to the Big Five personality factors. Comparisons with Saucier's Adjective Mini-Markers of the Big Five revealed that three of the PRF-JPI varimax factors had strong and nearly isomorphic relations to the Big Five Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Intellect/Imagination factors, respectively. The other two PRF-JPI factors were strongly related to Agreeableness and Emotional Stability but emerged as variants of these factors, rotated about 45 degrees from their traditional locations. Several PRF and JPI scales—including PRF Harmavoidance, JPI Value Orthodoxy, JPI Energy Level, JPI Risk Taking, and JPI Social Adroitness—were not strongly related to any one or two of the Big Five factors.

A Discriminant Analysis of Young Adults' Knowledge of the Human Papillomavirus and Self-Efficacy of Condom Use

Abstract Five hundred and fifteen sexually active undergraduate students classified according to self reports of condom use responded to questions on knowledge of the Human papillomavirus (HPV) and self-efficacy regarding condom use. Varimax factor analysis of 21 knowledge questions on HPV and 14 attitudinal questions about sexually transmitted disease (STDs) identified 3 factors with internal levels of reliability of .60 or greater; factor analysis of the 28 item condom use self-efficacy scale identified 2 factors with internal reliability of .45 or greater. Students overall were unfamiliar with HPV or health consequences of HPV infection. Male nonusers of condoms (n = 203) compared to male users (n = 87) had twice the number of significant discriminant function coefficients regarding communication issues around condom use and less concern about STDs. Fewer differences were observed between female users (n = 114) and nonusers (n = 111) of condoms as determined by a discriminant analysis. Nonusers held ne...

Death, Anxiety, and Depression

An Arabic version of the Templer et al.'s (1990) Death Depression Scale was constructed and correlated 0.86 with the English version. Its alpha was 0.87 denoting high cross-language equivalence and high internal consistency. It has meaningful factorial structure. However, factor similarity was not high. Subjects were 208 male and female Egyptian undergraduates. Death anxiety and death depression correlated 0.69. Both scales had somewhat similar positive and significant correlations with general anxiety (STAI-T) and gender. Death anxiety correlated 0.32 ( p > .001) with general depression (BDI), while the correlation between death depression and general depression was not significant. Two Varimax factors were extracted: death distress (highly saturated with death anxiety and death depression scales), and general neurotic disorder (high loadings with general anxiety and general depression). There is a need to factor analyze the individual items of death anxiety and death depression scales among Arabic subjects.

Relative importance of meteorological variables in evapotranspiration: Factor analysis approach

Evapotranspiration is the most important variable next to rainfall in the context of irrigation to crops and it is a multivariate phenomenon as it is influenced by many hydrological variables. In this paper, the relative importance of different variables involved in evapotranspiration has been investigated through a multivariate technique, namely factor analysis. Monthly data pertaining to eight meteorological stations located in two tropical states of India are used in this analysis. Factor analysis was applied to determine the relative effect of rainfall, temperature (maximum and minimum), wind speed, relative humidity, and sunshine duration on evapotraspiration. The analysis was performed in two stages: in the first stage, the principal components were obtained and in the second stage, a set of factors was derived using Varimax factor rotation. Three factors were extracted which explained more than 85% of the total variation in the original data set. The identified factors were related to physical processes influencing the evapotranspiration. The results of the study reveal that the variables, relative humidity, temperature, and wind speed, are those with the most influence in the evapotranspiration process, in that order. The variables rainfall and sunshine duration have been found to have less influence on the ET process.

Implications of factor analysis in the geochemistry of Nishikhal manganese deposit, eastern ghats, Orissa, India.

Normalised major and trace element data of manganese ores from Nishikhal are processed by using R-mode factor analysis of correlation matrix. Twenty major and trace elemental variables are expressed in terms of 3 common (rotated) factors to understand the mineralogical occurrences and the processes of formation of the manganese deposit. Varimax factor scores are used to classify in a finer detail the manganese ore types.

Plio‐Pleistocene palaeoceanography of the tropical Indian Ocean (ODP Hole 709C): Radiolarian and CaCO3 evidence

AbstractSediments spanning the Olduvai subchron (1.79–1.95 Ma) of ODP Hole 709C in the tropical Indian Ocean were sampled at 5‐cm intervals. High‐resolution quantitative radiolarian and CaCO3% data have been used as proxies in interpreting palaeoceanographical conditions, an a comparison made with previously obtained oxygen isotope data. Radiolarian data were subjected to principal components analysis, resulting in four varimax factors. Factor 1 accounted for the greatest variation and comprised well‐know warm‐water and cold‐water taxa, with high +ve and ‐ ve scores respectively, which were used in the construction of a temperature index. Results indicate a tripartite temporal division of Olduvai palaeoceanography. In the early Olduvai, prior to 1.895 Ma, and the late Olduvai, approximating the Plio‐Pleistocene boundary at 1.81 Ma, divergence‐driven equatorial upwelling and high‐productivity coincide with isotope‐defined ‘interglacials’, and with generally low CaCO3%. However, during the mid‐Olduvai, upwelling, productivity and sedimentation rates were all reduced. These changes in palaeoceanography are thought to be linked directly to eccentricity modulated variations in the precession of the Earth's orbit. The early and late Olduvai coincide with periods of minimum eccentricity, when precessional reinforcemnet of the southwest monsoon is weakest, coastal upwelling along the Oman margin is reduced, and zonal wind‐driven equatorial divergence upwelling is increased. The mid‐Olduvai, however, corresponds with an eccentricity maximum, during which monsoonal activity is stronger and equatorial divergence upwelling weak.

Dimensions of quality in Swedish day care centers — An analysis of the early childhood environment rating scale

The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) was used to measure the quality in 40 Swedish day care centers randomly chosen from the total number of day care centers in the city of Gothenburg. The ECERS was translated as exactly as possible from the original version. Statistical analysis of the inter‐rater agreement were made and problems in relation to the training and competence of the raters are discussed. The reliability of the instrument was estimated. Inter‐item correlations of the subscales and between these were analyzed. In a rotated varimax factor analysis one main factor was extracted explaining 40% of the variance. Items included in this factor were all related to the quality of the overall socialization and communicative environment like child/adult relationship, social‐emotional tone, informal use of language, etc. A second factor was interpreted as Quality of physical environment including items on learning material, display and room arrangement. Three small factors were interpreted as Quality of creative experience, Parental needs and Availability and educational use of spatial area. In this paper the results are discussed in relation to Swedish child care policy.

Higher-Order Abilities Conceptualized with in Guilford's Structure-Of-Intellect (Soi) Model for a Sample of United States Coast Guard Academy Cadets: A Reanalysis of an Soi Data Base

This study was undertaken to provide empirical validation of the first-order and higher-order factor structures of the structure-of-intellect (SOI) model conceptualized by Guilford. Both confirmatory maximum likelihood and exploratory (varimax and promax) factor analytic methodologies were employed to reanalyze an existing correlational data base (N - 178) involving 20 SOI experimental tests, 9 Coast Guard aptitude tests, and 10 Coast Guard criterion measures originating from the University of Southern California Aptitudes Research Project Report Number 13 entitled "The Relation of Certain Thinking Factors to Training Criteria in the U.S. Coast Guard Academy" (Guilford, Kettner, and Christensen, 1955). Although nine of the originally identified 11 first-order orthogonal factors could be replicated, oblique solutions involving higher-order factors accounted for a larger proportion of covariance among the test and criterion measures than did orthogonal solutions. The presence of identifiable first-order and higher-order correlated factors as well as a general factor suggested that the SOI model could be reconceptualized as a pyramid-like hierarchical theory of intelligence.

Development of an instrument for measuring attitudes of early childhood educators towards science

The attitude towards science of first year early childhood education students was explored using an instrument developed for the purpose. The instrument comprises four Likert-type scales, biographical items and two open-ended attitude items. The four scales, characterised as ‘confidence’, ‘enjoyment’, ‘usefulness’ and ‘appropriateness of science for young children’, were supported by varimax factor analysis and had reliabilities from 0.83 to 0.88. Use of the combined scales as a general ‘attitude towards science’ scale was supported by principal components analysis; reliability for the combined scale was 0.94. Comments made in response to the open-ended items supported the validity of the scales. For the student group as a whole, mean scores on all scales were slightly to moderately positive, with the highest mean being for the ‘science for young children’ scale. Students who had studied at least one science subject at Year 12 level had significantly higher scores on all scales than students who had not studied science at senior level.

Molecular Phylogeny of the Helianthus Genus, Based on Nuclear Restriction-Fragment-Length Polymorphism (RFLP)

The systematics of 44 species of the Helianthus genus were studied by digestion of total DNAs by three six-base restriction endonucleases (EgnI, EcoRV, and Hind111 ) and by probing with 10 nuclear probes, resulting in a mean number of 63 hybridization signals per sample. First, the number of substitutions, per nucleotide site, between each of the genomes was estimated on the basis of the distribution of 345 fragments between samples, according to the “fragment method” of Nei and Li. These pairwise distances were used to construct evolutionary trees by means of the unweighted pair grouping with arithmetic means and by the neighbor-joining method. The phylogenies produced by these two methods, where all the sections and series defined by morphological classification are separated, mirror the botanical classification of the genus. However, the integration of polyploid species (2n = 4x or 2n = 6x) leads to their artificial separation from the diploids. The separation of H. petiolaris and H. neglectus from the Helianthus section could provide evidence for two distinct lineages of annual species within the Helianthus genus. Second, varimax factor analysis, based on the F matrix, allows separation of species according to the similarity index and gives a plane representation that is close to the morphological classification given by the weighted pair grouping with arithmetic means. Third, the changes in the accuracy of distance estimates according to the number of probe-enzyme combinations used show that 30 combinations produce a general dispersion of ~5% on both sides of the mean value. Model fitting to the decreasing dispersion indicates that 60 probe-enzyme combinations would ensure a dispersion of distance estimation of < l%, even in the case of distantly related species.

Factors controlling the concentration of particulate carbohydrates and amino acids in the Paran� River

Particulate carbohydrates and particulate amino acids were determined in a set of samples from the Parana River, Argentina, covering a stretch of over 1300 km. To gain an understanding of the factors which control the concentrations of these organic compounds, a multivariate statistical approach was used (R-mode varimax factor analysis). This technique separated the influence of various sources of organic matter. The floodplain of the middle reach (about 900 km long and 20–30 km wide) was the most significant source controlling the concentrations of particulate carbohydrates (PCH), providing angiosperm debris, phytoplankton and grasses. Particulate amino acids (PAA) concentrations were determined markedly both by contributions from the Paraguay basin, and the lotic and lentic environments of the floodplain. Sugars single out forested tributary basins as sources of bacteria while amino acids point toward the Paraguay River as a major source of biodegraded material; heterotrophic processes, however, appear more clearly depicted with PAA than with PCH. A downstream increase of the PCH/PAA ratio suggests a larger consumption of PAA in the lowermost reaches.

Factor analysis of total element concentrations in surface soils of Poland

The occurrence of elements (total concentration) in arable soils of Poland was examined using R-mode factor analysis. Eight major elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P and Ti) and eighteen trace elements (As, Ba, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, La, Li, Mn, Nd, Ni, Pb, Sc, Sr, V, Y and Zn) as well as some soils properties (pH, organic matter (OM), particle size distribution (PSD) and cation exchange capacity (CEC)) were determined in soil samples collected throughout the territory of Poland. The data were factor analyzed for geochemical associations. Four varimax factors accounted for 86% of the total variance of 30 variables studied. Varimax factor 1 describes most of the variation in the concentrations of 18 elements: Al, Ba, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, La, Li, Mn, Nd, Ni, V and Y. The high loadings of PSD (particles of < 0.02 mm and < 0.002 mm diameter) and Al on this factor indicate that these elements constitute association related to the soil parent rocks. Varimax factor 2 describes most variation in concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn and a part in concentration of As. These associations constitute a suite of antropogenically induced elements. The remaining factors (3 and 4) are of minor importance and mainly explain variability in some soil properties (pH, OM, CEC) and concentration of P. The paper also presents baseline concentrations of the elements studied in the surface soils of Poland.

Guilt Appeals in Advertising: An Exploratory Study

A two-stage exploratory study was conducted to assess the effect of guilt as an advertising appeal. A sample of 46 working mothers were asked to respond to three advertisements for a microwavable dinner product in which the message intent was to create guilt (i.e., low, medium, and high). The advertisements were constructed following a content analysis of several popular women's magazines. A set of 18 adjectives covering both guilt- and nonguilt-related items was provided for each advertisement. The adjective sets had a five-point response range, with endpoints labeled “Not at All” to “Very.” A varimax factor analysis yielded a three-factor solution, including factors of guilt, anger, and happiness. An analysis of variance identified significant changes in subjects' perceived guilt, anger, and happiness across the three advertisements. Further, medium guilt appeals were more effective in inducing guilt in respondents than those either low or high in guilt. Finally, as the level of guilt represented in an advertisement increased, the subjects' anger also increased.

Protein concentration in pre-ovulatory follicular fluid related to ovarian stimulation

Sixty follicular fluids obtained from 26 women with either clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) or hMG-induced ovulation were analyzed for the contents of total proteins, fibrinogen, plasminogen, antithrombin III, ceruloplasmin, α-2 macroglobulin, α-1 antitrypsin and immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM). Concentrations of these proteins was correlated to the type of ovarian follicle growth induction. Follicular fluids from patients stimulated with clomiphene citrate-hMG contained significantly higher concentrations of ceruloplasmin than those treated with hMG alone. No significant differences in the concentrations of other proteins were noted between the two types of ovarian induction. A multivariate data analysis resulted in three Varimax factors (VRX I) suggesting that proteins with antiprotease activity in the follicular fluid may play a role in human follicle maturation. Follicular fluid Ig may reflect the degree of follicular wall permeability under hMG treatment. Accordingly, it may be assumed that a combination of different proteins described by VRX factors could be used for evaluation of ovarian stimulation.

A Possibly Interesting Intercorrelation Matrix to Accompany a Varimax Solution

The intercorrelation matrix of Horn's general factor score approximation procedure applied to varimax factors is suggested as of possible interest for factor-analytic interpretation.

Rotation to Maximize the Construct Validity of Factors in the NEO Personality Inventory.

The NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI) consists of 5 global domain and 18 specific facet scales developed to measure aspects of the five major dimensions of normal personality. To obtain optimal measures of these five dimensions from the NEO-PI scales, a method for the orthogonal rotation of principal components to maximize the convergent and discriminant validity of the rotated factors (validimax rotation) is proposed and applied to NEO-PI factors. Self-report data from 983 men and women were used to obtain the factors, and six alternative operationalizations of the five-factor model were used as external criteria to guide rotation. The rotation obtained was cross-validated on peer and spouse ratings on the NEO-PI, and in a second sample. NEO-PI domain scales, varimax factors, and validimax factors all showed evidence of construct validity, but validimax factors were somewhat superior, especially as measures of Agreeableness and Conscientiousness.

The ‘big five’ dimensions of personality? Evidence from ipsative, adjectival self-attributions

A new ipsative adjective checklist was completed by 160 young adults of above-average educational attainment. When 47 principal components having eigenvalues greater than unity were rotated, the first six Varimax factors recovered from the inter-adjectival correlations were interpreted as variants of the ‘Big Five’ personality dimensions ( extraversion, autonomy, neuroticism, conscientiousness and tender-mindedness) plus intelligence. Visual scree test, however, suggested the extraction of 12 components; and Varimax rotation of these yielded possible equivalents of Eysenck's Psychoticism, Extraversion and Neuroticism as the three chief factors beyond which factor-definition was markedly less feasible. Both the number and the nature of major, recognizable personality dimensions depended in this study on how much specificity was retained for factorial rotation: retaining more specificity seemed to countenance dimensional differentiation such as that between ‘fluid’ and ‘crystallized’ intelligence.

Factor Analysis of a Multiple-Choice Format for Job Satisfaction

This study examined the factor structure of a modified 30-question multiple-choice format for job satisfaction based on the Job Descriptive Index. The five-factor varimax factor analytic solution was the same as that obtained by Smith, Kendall, and Hulin (1969) for the original Job Descriptive Index. The measure of reliability was high. The results indicated that researchers can use a shorter multiple-choice format of job satisfaction based on the Job Descriptive Index without interfering with the dimensionality.

The structure of depressive symptoms in the elderly.

In a structured sample of 100 male and 100 female minimally impaired patients, aged 60 years and over, females were more depressed. Varimax factor analysis demonstrated four factor groupings which have clinical relevance - Depression, Anxiety, Cognitive impairment, and Psychosomatic disorder; their relative importance is different in males and females. Analysis of variance of the scores of clusters generated by cluster analysis demonstrated four groups of subjects - normal, mildly depressed, moderately depressed with borderline dementia and disability, and severely depressed with moderate dementia and frank disability. In the mildly and moderately depressed, symptoms of anxiety predominated.

Inter‐relationship among laboratory process skills in biology

AbstractInquiry oriented practical matriculation tests of 3650 12th grade biology students in Israel were analyzed to find out the interrelationships among 21 process skills. Using correlations and varimax factor analysis, seven factors were obtained. These factors are listed according to the relative percentage of the total variance accounted for from highest to lowest: handling quantitative relationships, explaining and assessing data, conceptualizing and planning investigations, summarizing results, interpreting and concluding, selecting form of presenting findings, designing experiments.The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are briefly discussed. Theoretically, the associations as well as the dissociations identified provide important clues regarding the organization of process skills related knowledge in cognitive structure. From a practical perspective the findings offer guidance for teacher educators as well as biology teachers on more effective ways for developing science process skills.