Do the Different Methods of Factor Analysis Still Give Almost Identical Results?

Abstract

The question is examined 30 yr. after Wolfle summarized the field to see if newer methods of factor analysis have changed the picture substantially. An eight-variable two-factor physical body measurement problem is solved with a variety of methods and different estimates of communality. All give very similar results after the factor matrix is rotated to the varimax criterion. Even the image covariance analysis and principal components solutions portray the same structure as found by more conventional common-factor procedures.