Kukuk and Baty (1979) have been critical of the use of factor scores as predictors in multiple regression analysis. The present paper, while in disagreement with certain of Kukuk and Baty's conclusions, also finds the perfunctory use of factor scores in conjunction with regression analysis to be inappropriate for many, or even most, purposes. It is suggested that factoring methods are most suitable for independent variable sets when some consideration has been given to the nature of the domain which is implied by the predictors.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BurketG. R.A study of reduced rank models for multiple prediction. Psychometric Monographs, 1964, No. 12.
2.
DixonW. J.BrownM. B. (eds.) BMDP77: Biomedical computer programs, p-series. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1977.
3.
HerzbergP. A.The parameters of cross-validation. Psychometric Monographs, 1969, No. 16.
4.
KukukC. R.BatyC. F.The misuse of multiple regression with composite scales obtained from factor scores. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1979, 39, 277–290.
5.
MorrisJ. D.A comparison of regression predictor accuracy on several types of factor scores. American Educational Research Journal, 1979, 16, 17–24.
6.
MorrisonD. F.Multivariate statistical methods. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1967.
7.
TryonR. C.Cluster analysis. Ann Arbor: Edwards Brothers, 1939.
8.
TuckerL. R.Relations of factor score estimates to their use. Psychometrika, 1971, 36, 427–436.
9.
WainerH.Estimating coefficients in linear models: It don't make no nevermind. Psychological Bulletin, 1976, 83, 213–217.