The purpose of this study was to identify the factorial composition of 55 characteristics of 5,981 subjects. These characteristics were assessed by a self-report inventory containing 55 items pertaining to drug use and alleged related areas of drug use. The significance of using the factor analysis technique is primarily to improve the interpretability of the instrument through a procedure of reducing the 55 interdependent characteristics (items) to a more manageable and meaningful number.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AnastasiA., Psychological Testing, p. 104, MacMillan, New York, 1968.
2.
HarmanH. H., Modern Factor Analysis, pp. 6–7, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1967.
3.
BrownF. G., Principles of Educational and Psychological Testing, pp. 220–221, Dryden Press, Hinsdale, Illinois, 1970.
4.
KaiserH. F., The application of electronic computers to factor analysis, Educational and Psychological Measurement, 20: 141–151, 1960.
5.
StreitF. and OliverH. G., The child's perception of his family and its relationship to drug use, Drug Forum, 1(3): 286, April, 1972.
6.
BlumR. H., Students and Drugs, Chapter VI, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 1969.
7.
CronbachL. J., Essentials of Psychological Testing, Harper and Row, New York, 1970.
8.
FergusonG. A., Statistical Analysis in Psychology and Education, Chapter 27, (3rd Ed.), McGraw-Hill, New York, 1971.
9.
PascaleP. J., and StreitF., The credibility factor in drug education programs, Journal of Drug Education, 2(4): 391–394, Winter, 1972.