PSYCO105 Lecture : Personality march 11.doc

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCO105
• Professor: Jennifer Passey

Document Summary

Factor analysis: a method of analyzing patterns of correlations in order to extract mathematically defined factors, which underlie and help make sense of those patterns. Factor analysis: step #1: collect data in the form of a set of personality measures taken across a large sampling of people, ex. Carefree, compliant, dependable, hard-working, kind, rude, and trusting: rate each on a scale from 1 (very poor descriptor of you) to 5 (very good descriptor of you) Factor analysis: step #2: once the data are collected, the researcher statistically correlates the scores for each adjective with those for each of the other adjectives. Identified a preliminary set of traits and gave each a name. A is a relatively stable predisposition to behave in a certain way. Is the process in factor analysis where the researcher identifies mathematical factors which best account for the observed pattern of correlations.