| Abstract: | Though most social psychologists are aware of the use of factor analysis as an exploratory method to uncover latent dimensions, factor analysis can also be used in a confirmatory mode to test specific hypotheses. A confirmatory solution is unique and cannot be rotated. One possible use of confirmatory factor analysis is with the multitrait-multimethod matrix. Jaccard, Weber, and Lundmark's (1975) multitrait-multimethod matrix of two traits and four methods is analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis. Given the very small sample size the analysis is primarily illustrative. A simple two factor model with errors of measurement correlated across measures using the same method satisfactorily fits the data. Both discriminant and convergent validity are high and none of the methods has higher reliability or less correlated measurement error. The reliability of measures estimated by maximum likelihood factor analysis is lower than the test-retest reliability since method variance is subtracted out. Confirmatory factor analysis is recommended over the Campbell-Fiske criteria. |
