factor analysis
nounUK /ˈfæk.tər əˈnæl.ə.sɪs/
US /ˈfæk.tɚ əˈnæl.ə.sɪs/
A way to find the hidden things that make different results happen together.
The scientist used factor analysis to see which test questions measured the same skill.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A statistical method that groups many related measurements into a few underlying factors.
Factor analysis showed that the survey questions loaded onto three main factors.
3. A technique used in psychology to uncover traits behind test scores.
Researchers applied factor analysis to identify personality dimensions.
4. A mathematical procedure for simplifying complex data by finding common patterns.
The team ran a factor analysis to reduce dozens of variables to a handful.