Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

The relationship between the final factors and the composition of the original variance in a factor analysis is discussed, It is argued that, where factors defining intra individual processes are required, it is inappropriate to include interindividual variability in the original variance. A case study is reported illustrating this point. Factors defining intraindividual mood dimensions were obtained to assess differences in the self-rated mood of telephone operators as a function of switchboard design. Scores on a “well-being” factor were found to be lower for operators on a modern cordless switchboard than on the older style cord switchboard. The analysis also revealed significant changes in well-being and a second factor, labeled “competence,” over the working day.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Aitken, R. C. B. Measurement of feelings using visual analogue scales. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, 1969, 62, 989–993.

Brown, I. D. , Wastell, D. G. , and Copeman, A. K. Some effects of task and work-space design trends on correlates of job satisfaction among telephone switchboard operators. Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on Human Factors in Telecommunications, in press.

Habberfield, V. J. Cordless switchboards. British Post Office. London THQ/SvD/Sv2, Internal memo no. MDCT(71), June, 1971.

Harris, R. H., Duggleby, R., and Turnham, L. K. Operating times for automanual switchboards. Post Office Telecommunications Management Services Department, Report 340, 1975.

Herbert, M. , Johns, M. W. , and Doré, C. Factor analysis of analogue scales measuring subjective feelings before and after sleep. British Journal of Medical psychology, 1976, 49, 373–379.

Nie, N. H. , Hull, C. H. , Jenkins, J. G. , Steinbrenner, K. , and Bent, D. H. Statistical package for the social sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill. 1975.

Norris, H. The action of sedatives on brain-stem oculomotor systems in man. Neuropharmacologia, 1971, 10, 181–191.

Sternberg, R. J. Intelligence. information processing, and analogical reasoning. Hillsdale, NJ: Laurence Erlbaum, 1977.

Wainer, H. and Thissen, D. Three steps towards robust regression. Psychometrika, 1976, 41, 9–34.

10.

Wastell, D. G. Attention and the habituation of human brain potentials. Unpublished doctoral thesis, University of Durham, England, 1978.

11.

Wastell, D. G. On the independence of P300 and the CNV: A critique of the principal components analysis of Donchin et al. (1975). Biological Psychology, 1979, 9, 171–176.

12.

Wilson, W. T. and Neff, C. Social implications of cord versus cordless telephone exchanges. Cranfield: Cranfield University of Technology, SAS Special Report, 1979.

Design Considerations in the Use of Factor Analysis to Study Intraindividual Processes: A Case Study of Mood in Telephone Operators

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References