factor reflection

changing the signs of a set of factor loadings from positive to negative, or vice versa. For example, researchers studying a newly revised scale to measure a positive emotion such as happiness might use factor reflection to change a negative sign on the factor loadings for positive items as well as to change a positive sign for sadness items. The resulting pattern of loadings thus shows positively focused items as having a positive sign and sadness-focused items as having a negative sign, such that the entire scale could accurately be said to measure the positive state of happiness.

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Psychology term of the day

February 17th 2025

panacea

n. a solution or remedy for everything that is wrong with a given problem or that universally applies to a set of related problems.