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u04d1 Factor Analysis

Discuss what you have learned about factor analysis. If this method applies to your current or future research plans,
include these speculations in your discussion.
You may want to discuss such aspects as the logic of the method, the primary purposes of the method, the various
steps involved, the matrices produced, the reasons for rotation, and so on. Other points of interest related to factor
analysis are certainly welcome here.

Factor analysis is essentially a data reduction technique to explore the correlating and coherent
subsets of factors, which are inherently orthogonal in nature, which can be used to populate a
multiple regression equation to understand and test the predictability of a theory based upon the
underlying processes of the extracted components or factors from observed p (p represents the
number of variables) measured X variables.
Its important to note that the factors are essentially inferred independent variables that are not
measured directly. Therefore, factors can be thought of as a heuristic not an absolute expression
of the underlying processes of the observed data. Thus there is always a degree of speculation on
the number of factors that may explain the patterns of the outcome variables and the independent
variables that affect them. Hence, the greater the number of factors the more the inherent
complexity of the research hypothesis will fit the data set.
When using Principle Analysis Factoring (PAF) the following steps are typically implemented to
develop a conceptual approach to understanding the data based upon the underlying factors and
their shared variance:
1) Select and measure X variables,
2) Prepare a correlation R matrix based upon the computations of the correlations of all possible
dyads of the measured X variables. PAF loads communality or correlation estimates that
theoretically represent the proportion of variance that is predictable from or shared by other
observed X variables in the diagonal entries of the R correlation matrix (Warner, 2008). These
factor loadings typically involve a series of iterations until a level of convergence or
immutability of the communality estimates is achieved. These values are then entered into the
diagonal correlation R matrix.
Subsequently, the heuristic items are factor analyzed and the intercorrelation values either
confirms or rejects group formations under estimated factors as well as determining the
intercorrelation between groups to identify and confirm the number of factors involved (Warner,
2008).
3) Extract of a set of factors from the R matrix,
4) Determine the number of factors,

5) Rotate the factors to increase interpretability. Factor rotation is statistical technique used by data
analysts to examine the pattern of correlations between factors and observed p measured X variables
(Warner, 2008),

6) Interpret the results,


7) Establish construct validity to verify the structure of the factors.
The outcome should reveal patterns of factor correlations to help determine their contribution to
the potential statistical significance of a proposed research hypothesis. More specifically, these
factors represent latent variables that assist in identifying the shared covariance values that
contribute to the common variance of the data set.
Its important to note that a primary difference between PAF and Principle Component Analysis
(PCA) is PCA does not differentiate between the unique variance and common variance of the
data, but examines the total variance as opposed to computing the covariances (common
variance) of the X measured variables in PAF. These factors represent coherent subsets and
correlations of communality that estimate the proportion of variance that is predictable from or
shared by observed X variables in the data set (Warner, 2008).
Of particular research interest is how factor analysis may play a key role in statistically
determining the underlying factors that may influence various outcomes of bioenergy treatments
such as Reiki. The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by healthcare
consumers in the United States is growing in popularity. The National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine recognizes Reiki as putative energy therapy
(NCCAM, 2011). Reiki is a form of energy healing (EH) in which a practitioner transmits
bioenergy fields through light touch or at a distance from the clients body to promote
physiopsychological health and well being.

According to DiNucci (2005), more than 50 hospitals and clinics throughout the United States
offer Reiki treatments as an alternative to conventional treatment protocols. Some of the
prestigious healthcare facilities and institutions that offer Reiki treatment modalities are: Harvard
University Health Services, Columbia University Department of Surgery, Cornell University
Wellness Program, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Comprehensive Breast Program, and
George Washington University Medical Center (DiNucci, 2005). In addition, Reiki is "used in a
variety of medical settings including hospice care settings; emergency rooms; psychiatric
settings; operating rooms; nursing homes; pediatric, rehabilitation; and family practice centers,
obstetrics, gynecology, and neonatal care units; HIV/AIDS; and organ transplantation care units"
(Miles & True, 2003, p. 65).
A proposed research question might be, What are the underlying factors that help determine
positive and negative outcomes that participants experience with Reiki energy healing
treatments? The SPSS Factor Analysis would calculate a set of estimated loadings that describe
how p (p represents the number of variables) of the X variables are correlated with all p of the

factors. A number of factors could be identified and interpreted using PAF through the
correlation R matrix based upon the proportion of variance that is predictable from or shared by
other observed X variables in the study.
Anthony Rhodes
General Psychology PhD

References

DiNucci, Ellen M. (2005). Energy Healing: A Complementary Treatment for Orthopaedic and
Other Conditions. Orthopaedic Nursing. 24(4), 259-269.

Miles, P., & True, G. (2003). Reiki-Review of a biofield therapy. History, theory, practice, and
research. Alternative Therapies, 9(2), 62-72.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2011). What is CAM? Retrieved
April 13, 2011 from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/
Warner, R.M. (2008). Applied statistics: From Bivariate Through Multivariate Techniques.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN: 9780761927723.

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