chapter 14 factor analysis - york university（第14章因素分析u2014u2014约克大学）.pdfVIP

Chapter 14 Factor analysis 14.1 INTRODUCTION Factor analysis is a method for investigating whether a number of variables of interest Y , Y , : : :, Y , are linearly related to a smaller number of unob- 1 2 l servable factors F , F , : : :, F . 1 2 k The fact that the factors are not observable disquali¯es regression and other methods previously examined. We shall see, however, that under certain conditions the hypothesized factor model has certain implications, and these implications in turn can be tested against the observations. Ex- actly what these conditions and implications are, and how the model can be tested, must be explained with some care. 14.2 AN EXAMPLE Factor analysis is best explained in the context of a simple example. Stu- dents entering a certain MBA program must take three required courses in ¯nance, marketing and business policy. Let Y , Y , and Y , respectively, 1 2 3 represent a students grades in these courses. The available data consist of the grades of ¯ve students (in a 10-point numerical scale above the passing mark), as shown in Table 14.1. Table 14.1 Student grades Student Grade in: no. Finance, Y1 Marketing, Y2 Policy, Y3 1 3 6 5 2 7 3 3 3 10 9 8 4 3 9 7 5 10 6 5 °c Peter Tryfos, 1997. This version printed: 14-3-2001.