A traditional method of analyzing scores for use in psychological measurement is exemplified by the variation associated with factor analysis. The factor analytic method is shown to contain implicit assumptions concerning the common and unique variance of any variable by exclusion of the latter. A new method of developing psychologically meaningful scores is presented which considers only the unique variance of a variable. These new scores, called partitioned variates, are supported both logically and with external criteria, and a detailed worked example is provided. The methodology and concept suggested here should provide researchers with an alternative to the more traditional viewpoints and methods of data analysis.
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