This study entailed the development and implementation of a classroom activity designed to introduce students to the concept of factor analysis. We implemented the activity in both a personality theories course and a tests and measurements course. Data suggest that students learned about factor analysis from this activity, while enjoying it. Professors can easily modify this activity to meet the needs of a variety of psychology courses in which factor analysis is relevant or discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BernsteinI. H.GarbinC. P.TengG. K. (1988). Applied multivariate analysis. New York: Springer-Verlag.
2.
ConnorJ. M. (2003). Making statistics come alive: Using space and students' bodies to illustrate statistical concepts. Teaching of Psychology, 30, 141–143.
3.
McCraeR. R.CostaP. T.Jr. (1996). Toward a new generation of personality theories: Theoretical contexts for the five-factor model. In WigginsJ. S. (Ed.), The five-factor model of personality: Theoretical perspectives (pp. 51–87). New York: Guilford.
4.
PerkinsD. V.SarisR. N. (2001). A “jigsaw classroom” technique for undergraduate statistics courses. Teaching of Psychology, 28, 111–113.
5.
VogtW. P. (1993). Dictionary of statistics and methodology: A nontechnical guide for the social sciences. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.