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Faktorenanalyse am Scheideweg
Full text linkSoftcover, 184 S.: 27,00 €Softcover, 17x24Ein fataler Fehler der konventionellen Psychometrie wird in dieser Monographie aufgedeckt. Das Prinzip der Einfachstruktur, an dem sich seit den Anfängen der Faktorenanalyse alle Varianten der Rotation extrahierter Faktoren ausgerichtet haben, geht an der empirischen Realität vorbei. Das „Simple Structure“-Prinzip zwingt die Variablen einer multivariaten Untersuchung in ein monokausales Korsett und hindert sie daran, die tatsächlich vorliegende Komplexität latenter Komponenten zu entfalten. Dies ist der Grund, warum faktorenanalytische Ergebnisse durchweg theoretisch fruchtlos blieben und eher Unbehagen als Zufriedenheit mit sich brachten. Mit den später entwickelten konfirmatorischen Verfahren, die am realitätsfremden Ideal der Einfachstruktur festhielten, wurde keine Wende erzielt. Eine Wende aber stellt sich ein, sobald man sich dazu entschließt, bei der Rotation von Faktoren das scheinbar unverzichtbare Prinzip der Einfachstruktur aufzugeben und mehrfaktorielle Komplexität der Variablen unbeschränkt zuzulassen. Dazu dient in der statistischen Praxis das vom Verfasser entwickelte Rotationsverfahren Varimin. Die Ergebnisse von Varimin-Analysen, die in diesem Buch beschrieben werden, übertreffen die Ergebnisse von Einfachstruktur-Analysen (Varimax) an Deutbarkeit, Stabilität, und - scheinbar paradoxerweise – sogar auch an Einfachheit.The present study aims at disclosing a methodological prejudice which has misled factor analysis since its beginning. Simple structure, the guiding principle for factor rotation (Thurstone, 1935/1947), is regarded as a questionable dogma. The Thurstone principle impedes the discovery of latent sources of variance on which manifest empirical variables are based. This criticism is elucidated by theoretical considerations and by verbatim quotations of critical authors. The present calamity of factorial research is deemed to be due to general flaws of methodical reasoning. One-sided mathematical formalization in the discipline has lost its objectives by ignoring ordinary sources of knowledge and linguistic processing. The problem of simple structure cannot be solved by circumplex- and structural equation procedures which suffer from the same flaws as simple structure modelling. A paradigm change is overdue. An alternative factor transformation modeling complex structures is demanded, it will be delineated in chapter 2. This chapter is a sequel of chapter 1 (Ertel, 2009) in which varimax, the procedure of factor rotation commonly used to generate simple structure, is replaced with varimin. Varimin aims at manifesting interacting aspects of latent structural components. The model of complexity which is outlined by initial factor extractions is optimized. The new method raises a number of issues of which five are discussed at length. Are varimin factors interpretable Can latent sources of covariance, being complex already by initial solutions, be rendered more complex? Have simple structure solutions in common practice not been tolerable, to say the least? Varimin factor loadings are often bipolar. How to interpret the bipolarity of varimin factors? Does varimin reveal contributions of variance originating from methodical sources? Ten empirical applications of varimin transformation serve as examples. Particular features of transformation to complex structure, revealing latent sources of covariance (by varimin), are compared with pertinent results obtained from transformations to simple structure (by varimax). Varimax will remain useful merely for clustering objectives. Attention is also drawn to limitations of the methodical innovation. Eighteen matrices with intercorrelations of eight subtest variables of the intelligence test I-S-T, widely used in Germany, were subjected to principal component analysis, the resulting factors were rotated by varimin towards optimal complex structure. The 18 varimin solutions were aggregated, two factors resulted: Varimin-F1 represented a general factor g (‘general or basic intelligence’), varimin-F2 represented an achievement-modifying factor, obviously dependent on preceding educational training and learning (‘learning assets’, l). The validity of varimin-F1, general intelligence, was ascertained by high correlations between g and test scores of general intelligence, operationalized by culture-free tests CFT und FRT. The interpretation of varimin-F2 found support by significant correlations with learning-dependent school grades and scores in orthography and arithmetic. The 18 PCA-factors were also transformed by varimax to simple structure. This transformation caused a splitting up of initial g into two seemingly separate factors, called ‘fluid’ and ‘crystallized’ intelligence by convention. In addition, differences between varimax F1 (fluid) and F2 (crystallized) regarding correlations with external criteria (general intelligence vs. school grades, training scores in orthography and arithmetic) which should have emerged were missing. The aggregate of varimax results yielded an unexpected third factor with considerable weight which, however, turned out to be an artifact of simple structure. Apparently, simple structure modelling of intelligence test data blends general intelligence with learning effects. Rotation of intelligence data to simple structure does not reveal, as it should, independent contributions of latent functional components. The results of a factorial study are reported using sports data whose underlying sources of variance are more transparent than those of invisible mental data: decathlon record scores. The aim was to compare varimin and varimax results regarding factorial stability and interpretability. It is shown that varimin factors revealed latent sources of variance in interaction, while varimax factors yielded obscure clusters of those sources of variance. In addition, factor structures obtained by varimin rotation were more robust to changing data sources than those obtained by varimax rotation. The new methodical turn might revive exploratory factorial research which, due to questionable results of the past, has lost reputation
Factor analysis
Full text linkSoftcover, 17x24, 160 S.: 27,00 €Softcover, 17x24Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is a statistical tool for digging out hidden factors which give rise to the diversity of manifest objectives in psychology, medicine and other sciences. EFA had its heyday as psychologist Leon Thurstone (1935 and 1948) based EFA on what he called the “principle of simple structure” (SS). This principle, however, was erroneous from the beginning what remained unrecognized despite subsequent inventions of more sophisticated statistical tools such as confirmatory analysis and structural equation modeling. These methods are highly recommended today as tolerable routes to model complexities of observation. But they did not remove the harmful errors that SS had left behind. Five chapters in this book demonstrate and explain the trouble. In chapter 2 the ailment of SS is healed by introducing an unconventional factor rotation, called Varimin. Varimin gives variables of an analysis an optimal opportunity to manifest functional interrelations underlying correlational observations. Ten applications of Varimin (in chapter 2) show that its results are superior to results obtained by the conventional Varimax procedure. Further applications are presented for sports achievements (chapter 3), intelligence (chapter 4), and personality (chapter 5). If Varimin keeps on standing the tests new theoretical building blocks will arise together with conceptual networks promoting a better understanding of the domains under study. Readers may check this prognosis by themselves using the statistical tool (Varimin) which is provided by open access in the internet
Basiskomponenten der Persönlichkeit
Full text linkSoftcover, 158 S.: 25,00 €Softcover, 17x24Seit über 70 Jahren kursieren in der Psychologie faktorenanalytische Modelle der Persönlichkeit. Methodologische Kontroversen, die jahrzehntelang die Szene beherrschten, wurden seit etwa zwei Jahrzehnten von einem zunehmenden Konsens abgelöst. Das Fünf-Faktoren-Modell (FFM) hat die Vorherrschaft gewonnen. Das FFM ist indessen mit schwerwiegenden Mängeln behaftet, was die theoretische Deutung der fünf Dimensionen betrifft. Der Verfasser hat dafür einen bislang unerkannten Fehler in den Grundauffassungen der Psychometrie verantwortlich machen können (Ertel, 2011). In seiner vorliegenden Schrift wird die Szene der methodisch und theoretisch mangelhaften Persönlichkeitsforschung aufgerollt. Ein neues Verfahren der Faktorenrotation (Varimin) wird eingesetzt, das im Unterschied zur bisherigen Modellierung, das sich dem Prinzip der Einfachstruktur verschrieben hatte, der Komplexität der analysierten Variablen Rechnung trägt. Das Verfahren, das für die faktorenanalytische Forschung ein neues Paradigma eröffnet, ermittelt Varianzquellen der Persönlichkeit, die als Basiskomponenten eines psychophysischen Ganzen eine funktionale Einheit erkennen lassen. Damit werden die Hindernisse überwunden, die einem theoretischen Verständnis der Ergebnisse faktorenanalytischer Persönlichkeitsforschung bisher im Wege standen.Thurstone's principle of simple structure is rejected and replaced by its converse, the principle of complex structure. Varimax, the popular simple structure rotation of factors, is replaced by varimin, a novel procedure taking account of the complexity of investigated variables (s. Ertel, 2011). An exploratory factor analysis of a
similarity matrix of 16 kinship terms showed that expected semantic features (sex, generation, nuclear family, lineality) manifest themselves by varimin rotation,while distorted clusters of kinship terms are obtained by varimax rotation.
Varimin rotation was also applied to five PCA-factors obtained from 30 facet variables of NEO-PI-R (Ostendorf & Angleitner, 2004). As expected, variminrotated
factors do not replicate the Big-Five factors neuroticism, extraversion, etc., they rather reveal basic componential features (usually called „dimensions‟): activation level (high-low), activation slope (ascending-descending), source of regulation (endodynamic-
exodynamic), phenomenal quality (endomodal-exomodal), and functionality (eufunctional vs. dysfunctional). The well-known Big-Five factors represent clusters of those features rather than simple dimensions. Sensation seeking, internalexternal
control, i. e. further constructs of simple structure- oriented research, are likewise conceivable as patterns of functioning based on those five componential
features. The validity of the five features obtained by varimin has largely been
confirmed by rankings of the 30 NEO-PI-R facets using the features as judgmental
criteria. Replacing Thurstonian simple structure by procedures aiming at complex
structure might help to generate a systemic architecture in the personality and
individual differences domains. More psychological functioning might be made
transparent by modelling patterns of basic features
Exploratory factor analysis revealing complex structure
No full textThe study introduces varimin, a novel factorial rotation which, unlike Thurstone's principle of simple structure, attempts to model complexity. Varimin-rotated factors are conceived as components of functional structure. Simple structure- (e.g., varimax-) rotated factors are conceived as representing indeterminate clusters of those components. An exploratory factor analysis was performed on decathlon scores from Olympic Games 1948-1988 of 233 decathletes. I expected that an interpretation of factors of transparent physical variables, modeled by complex structure, should outdo an interpretation of factors modeled by simple structure. Results of factor transformations by varimin and varimax were compared. Varimin factors of the 10 decathlon events pointed to components contributing jointly, with varying degrees, to the decathletes' performances revealing the following components. F(1): general athletic energy, F(2): pacing of energy expenditure (speed vs. endurance), and F(3): location of prime energy expenditure (upper vs. lower body parts). Varimax factors clustered the sports events without consistency, functional features of physical activities were not revealed. An analysis of complex structure is deemed appropriate to revive, on a broader scale, exploratory factorial research which, due to questionable output in the past, has long since lost its earlier challenge. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
The Ganzfeld debate continued: A response to Milton and Wiseman (2001)
No full textMost researchers in parapsychological circles and beyond are familiar with the ganzfeld debate, which was revived in a series of articles that appeared in Psychological Bulletin This article is a response to J. Milton and R. Wiseman's (2001) reply to L. Storm and S. Ertel (2001), who took issue with J. Milton and R. Wiseman's (1999a) claim that the evidence for psi in the ganzfeld was not replicable. The authors (Storm & Ertel) argue that in their reply, J. Milton and R. Wiseman (2001) misrepresented the issues raised in R. Hyman and C. Honorton's (1986) joint Communique to their advantage. Milton and Wiseman wrongly took the standards of the Communique as implying low quality of all previous studies and downplayed the accumulated evidence that doubts about the credibility of pre-Communique ganzfeld researchers were unwarranted. They wrongfully belittled statistical significance, an important contributor to empirical evidence, and on mere circumstantial grounds, they ignored the necessity of the bidirectionality test, which is acknowledged as a unique psi indicator. The authors reassess the effect sizes for the various ganzfeld databases and conclude that Milton and Wiseman's critique is essentially out of place. For future ganzfeld and psi research in general, the authors recommend a process-oriented strategy
The Ganzfeld debate continued: A response to Milton and Wiseman (2001)
No full textMost researchers in parapsychological circles and beyond are familiar with the ganzfeld debate, which was revived in a series of articles that appeared in Psychological Bulletin This article is a response to J. Milton and R. Wiseman's (2001) reply to L. Storm and S. Ertel (2001), who took issue with J. Milton and R. Wiseman's (1999a) claim that the evidence for psi in the ganzfeld was not replicable. The authors (Storm & Ertel) argue that in their reply, J. Milton and R. Wiseman (2001) misrepresented the issues raised in R. Hyman and C. Honorton's (1986) joint Communique to their advantage. Milton and Wiseman wrongly took the standards of the Communique as implying low quality of all previous studies and downplayed the accumulated evidence that doubts about the credibility of pre-Communique ganzfeld researchers were unwarranted. They wrongfully belittled statistical significance, an important contributor to empirical evidence, and on mere circumstantial grounds, they ignored the necessity of the bidirectionality test, which is acknowledged as a unique psi indicator. The authors reassess the effect sizes for the various ganzfeld databases and conclude that Milton and Wiseman's critique is essentially out of place. For future ganzfeld and psi research in general, the authors recommend a process-oriented strategy
Does psi exist? Comments on Milton and Wiseman's (1999) meta-analysis of ganzfeld research
No full textJ. Milton and R. Wiseman (1999) attempted to replicate D. Bem and C. Honorton's (1994) meta-analysis, which yielded evidence that the ganzfeld is a suitable method for demonstrating anomalous communication. Using a database of 30 ganzfeld and autoganzfeld studies, Milton and Wiseman's meta-analysis yielded an effect size (ES) of only 0.013 (Stouffer Z = 0.70, p = .24, one-tailed). Thus they failed to replicate Bem and Honorton's finding (ES = 0.162, Stouffer Z = 2.52, p = 5.90 x 10(-3), one-tailed). The authors conducted stepwise performance comparisons between all available databases of ganzfeld research, which were argued not to be lacking in quality. Larger aggregates of such studies were formed, including a database comprising 79 ganzfeld-autoganzfeld studies (ES = 0.138, Stouffer Z = 5.66, p = 7.78 x 10(-9)). Thus Bem and Honorton's positive conclusion was confirmed. More accurate population parameters for the ganzfeld and autoganzfeld domains were calculated. Significant bidirectional psi effects were also found in all databases. The ganzfeld appears to be a replicable technique for producing psi effects in the laboratory.Storm, Lance, Ertel, Suitber
Psychologie des Alltagshandelns / Grundintelligenz (g) und Lernkapital (l). Komplexstrukturelle Faktorenanalyse des I-S-T
No full textPsychologie des Alltagshandelns / Komplexe Strukturen aufspüren: Faktorenanalyse mit Variminrotation
No full textPsychologie des Alltagshandelns / Faktorielle Komplexität von Variablen, durch Varimax suspendiert, durch Varimin dekuvriert
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