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Contributions to factor analysis of dichotomous variables

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Abstract

A new method is proposed for the factor analysis of dichotomous variables. Similar to the method of Christoffersson this uses information from the first and second order proportions to fit a multiple factor model. Through a transformation into a new set of sample characteristics, the estimation is considerably simplified. A generalized least-squares estimator is proposed, which asymptotically is as efficient as the corresponding estimator of Christoffersson, but which demands less computing time.

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Reference notes

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This research was supported by the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation under project “Structural Equation Models in the Social Sciences”, project director Karl G. Jöreskog.

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Muthén, B. Contributions to factor analysis of dichotomous variables. Psychometrika 43, 551–560 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02293813

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02293813

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