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The Concept of Parsimony in Factor Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

George A. Ferguson
George A. Ferguson*
Affiliation:
McGill University
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Abstract

The concept of parsimony in factor analysis is discussed. Arguments are advanced to show that this concept bears an analogic relationship to entropy in statistical mechanics and information in communication theory. A formal explication of the term parsimony is proposed which suggests approaches to the final resolution of the rotational problem. This paper provides the rationale underlying Carroll's (2) analytical solution for approximating simple structure, and the solutions of Saunders (7) and Neuhaus and Wrigley (5).

Type
Original Paper
Information
Psychometrika , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , December 1954 , pp. 281 - 290
Copyright
Copyright © 1954 The Psychometric Society

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References

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