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factor analysis

(FA) a broad family of mathematical procedures for reducing a set of interrelations among manifest variables to a smaller set of unobserved latent variables or factors. For example, a number of tests of mechanical ability might be intercorrelated to enable factor analysis to reduce them to a few factors, such as fine motor coordination, speed, and attention. See confirmatory factor analysis; exploratory factor analysis; principal components analysis.

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Psychology term of the day

December 3rd 2024

full model

full model

a statistical representation that includes all of the variables of interest, or all of the main parameters (e.g., regression coefficients), among a set of variables. For example, in structural equation modeling, a full model might include estimated regression parameters between a set of independent variables, mediators, and dependent variables. When there are as many parameters estimated in a full model as there are degrees of freedom, it is said to be a saturated model. Also called unrestricted model.