factor analysis
noun
: the analytical process of transforming statistical data (such as measurements) into linear combinations of usually independent variables
factor analytic
adjective
Examples of factor analysis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The developer of a statistical method called factor analysis, Charles Spearman, concluded in 1904 that a general factor of intelligence, called a g factor, must underlie the concordance of measurements for varying human cognitive skills.
—
Eka Roivainen, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2023
Osgood did something similar with factor analysis.
—James Somers, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2021
Five reliable personality factors were found using principal axis factor analysis: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Dominance, Impulsiveness and Agreeableness.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 25 Sep. 2017
Most personality tests are designed by psychologists to be user-friendly and offer positive insight, but the Big Five traits were derived by applying factor analysis to human observations.
—Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 4 Jan. 2022
Perhaps my brain uses factor analysis to distill thousands of attributes—height, fashion sense, tone of voice—into a single point in an abstract space.
—James Somers, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2021
The regulations replaced a complex factor analysis that determined whether an entity could be taxed as a partnership.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2021
In an interview Thursday morning, Bernhardt said the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service used the five-factor analysis required by law to delist a species, and concluded the wolf is no longer endangered or threatened.
—Jennifer Bjorhus, Star Tribune, 29 Oct. 2020
Through factor analysis of those five sub-scores, computing a factor score on overall effectiveness for each firm, which, in turn, was also transformed into a T-Score.
—WSJ, 5 Dec. 2017
Eka Roivainen, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2023
Osgood did something similar with factor analysis.
—James Somers, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2021
Five reliable personality factors were found using principal axis factor analysis: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Dominance, Impulsiveness and Agreeableness.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 25 Sep. 2017
Most personality tests are designed by psychologists to be user-friendly and offer positive insight, but the Big Five traits were derived by applying factor analysis to human observations.
—Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 4 Jan. 2022
Perhaps my brain uses factor analysis to distill thousands of attributes—height, fashion sense, tone of voice—into a single point in an abstract space.
—James Somers, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2021
The regulations replaced a complex factor analysis that determined whether an entity could be taxed as a partnership.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2021
In an interview Thursday morning, Bernhardt said the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service used the five-factor analysis required by law to delist a species, and concluded the wolf is no longer endangered or threatened.
—Jennifer Bjorhus, Star Tribune, 29 Oct. 2020
Through factor analysis of those five sub-scores, computing a factor score on overall effectiveness for each firm, which, in turn, was also transformed into a T-Score.
—WSJ, 5 Dec. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'factor analysis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1928, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near factor analysis
Cite this Entry
“Factor analysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/factor%20analysis. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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