Application of factor analysis in psychological research: Improvement of simple structure by computer-assisted graphic oblique transformation: A brief note

Abstract

Several studies have suggested the efficacy of topological rotation as an adjunct to oblique analytical rotation in attaining improved approximation to maximum simple structure of the factor pattern matrix. Recently, using a higher-order scale factoring of the motivation Analysis Test (MAT), and the Eight State Questionnaire (8SQ), Boyle (1983) reported a 6.17% increase in the .10 hyperplane count after only 5 Rotoplot cycles. Four of the 11 extracted factors were simplified. The present brief note examines the issue of topological rotation in regard to its usefulness and ease of application by investigators untrained in the procedure.