We examine and refine the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ: Fagerstrom, 1978). The relation between each FTQ item and biochemical measures of heaviness of smoking was examined in 254 smokers. We found that the nicotine rating item and the inhalation item were unrelated to any of our biochemical measures and these two items were primary contributors to psychometric deficiencies in the FTQ. We also found that a revised scoring of time to the first cigarette of the day (TTF) and number of cigarettes smoked per day (CPD) improved the scale. We present a revision of the FTQ: the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND).

The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence: a revision of the Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire.

Despite the widespread use of exploratory factor analysis in psychological research, researchers often make questionable decisions when conducting these analyses. This article reviews the major design and analytical decisions that must be made when conducting a factor analysis and notes that each of these decisions has important consequences for the obtained results. Recommendations that have been made in the methodological literature are discussed. Analyses of 3 existing empirical data sets are used to illustrate how questionable decisions in conducting factor analyses can yield problematic results. The article presents a survey of 2 prominent journals that suggests that researchers routinely conduct analyses using such questionable methods. The implications of these practices for psychological research are discussed, and the reasons for current practices are reviewed.

/pdf/evaluating-the-use-of-exploratory-factor-analysis-in-4fpz0boat8.pdf

Evaluating the use of exploratory factor analysis in psychological research.

Coefficient alpha (Cronbach, 1951) is certainly one of the most important and pervasive statistics in research involving test construction and use. A review of the Social Sciences Citations Index for the literature from 1966 to 1990 revealed that Cronbach's (1951) article had been cited approximately 60 times per year and in a total of 278 different journals. In addition to the areas of psychology in which one may expect to see alpha used, such as educational, industrial, social, clinical, child, community, and abnormal psychology, this list of journals included representatives from experimental psychology, sociology, statistics, medicine, counseling, nursing, economics, political science, criminology, gerontology, broadcasting, anthropology, and accounting. In spite of its widespread use, however, there is some confusion as to the true meaning and proper interpretation of the statistic. In this article I address this confusion in two ways. First, a theoretical discussion of alpha is presented. This includes some of the many statements that have been made about alpha and an attempt to integrate these statements. Second, I take a more practical approach in which the interpretation of alpha is examined by observing the changes in alpha as the number of items and interitem correlations are manipulated.

/pdf/what-is-coefficient-alpha-an-examination-of-theory-and-22a9qx5n0t.pdf

What Is Coefficient Alpha? An Examination of Theory and Applications

An analytic criterion for rotation is defined. The scientific advantage of analytic criteria over subjective (graphical) rotational procedures is discussed. Carroll's criterion and the quartimax criterion are briefly reviewed; the varimax criterion is outlined in detail and contrasted both logically and numerically with the quartimax criterion. It is shown that thenormal varimax solution probably coincides closely to the application of the principle of simple structure. However, it is proposed that the ultimate criterion of a rotational procedure is factorial invariance, not simple structure—although the two notions appear to be highly related. The normal varimax criterion is shown to be a two-dimensional generalization of the classic Spearman case, i.e., it shows perfect factorial invariance for two pure clusters. An example is given of the invariance of a normal varimax solution for more than two factors. The oblique normal varimax criterion is stated. A computational outline for the orthogonal normal varimax is appended.

The varimax criterion for analytic rotation in factor analysis

Reanalyses of a number of studies of self-reported mood indicate that Positive and Negative Affect consistently emerge as the first two Varimax rotated dimensions in orthogonal factor analyses or as the first two second-order factors derived from oblique solutions. The two factors emerged with varyi

Toward a consensual structure of mood.

An index of factorial simplicity, employing the quartimax transformational criteria of Carroll, Wrigley and Neuhaus, and Saunders, is developed. This index is both for each row separately and for a factor pattern matrix as a whole. The index varies between zero and one. The problem of calibrating the index is discussed.

/pdf/an-index-of-factorial-simplicity-23e0hqsl0r.pdf

An index of factorial simplicity

A second generation little jiffy.

IN this paper three changes and one new development for the method of exploratory factor analysis (a second generation Little Jiffy) developed by Kaiser (1970) are described. Following this short description a step-by-step computer algorithm of the revised method-dubbed Little Jiffy, Mark IV-is presented. Extensive empirical experience with &dquo;a second generation Little Jiffy&dquo; (Kaiser, 1970) indicates that the method, for large matrices, consistently mildly underfactors. A revision is called for. Thus, the writers adopt as the answer for the crucially important question of the &dquo;number of factors&dquo; Guttman’s (1954) classic weaker lower bound, the index of the covariance matrix (with zeros in the diagonal) under consideration. This answer is the same as that given by Kaiser’s (1956, 1960, 1970) extensively used &dquo;eigenvalues greater than one of R.&dquo;

Little Jiffy, Mark Iv

Kaiser's Measure of Sampling Adequacy (MSA) for factor-analytic correlation matrices is studied for several levels each of p, the number of variables, q, the number of factors, and rfl, the root-mean-square off-diagonal correlation. The major influence for MSA is p, in agreement with theory; the joint main effect influences of p, q, and rfl to the total SSs remains greater than 84% under various choices of the levels of p, q, and rfl.

A Study Of A Measure Of Sampling Adequacy For Factor-Analytic Correlation Matrices

A method for relating factors between studies based on different individuals is developed. This approach yields a measure of reltionship between all factors under consideration, a measure which may be interpreted as a correlation coefficient.

Henry F. Kaiser

Papers

An index of factorial simplicity

A second generation little jiffy.

Little Jiffy, Mark Iv

A Study Of A Measure Of Sampling Adequacy For Factor-Analytic Correlation Matrices

Relating Factors Between Studies Based Upon Different Individuals.