EXERCISE 15.3: FACTOR ANALYZING THE JOINERSHIP ITEMS OBJECTIVE: To examine the dimensionality of the remaining joinership scale items. ( Note: If you have not yet covered Module 18, your instructor may ask you to skip Exercise 15.3 and proceed directly to Exercise 15.4.)

1. Using the data file “Joinership Data Recoded.sav,” conduct an exploratory factor analysis of those items that were retained following examination of the SME ratings. Use the following options found within your data analysis software:

• Choose principal axis factoring as the method of extraction.

• Request a scree plot. Base the number of factors that emerge on your judgment of the results of the scree plot.

• For the method of rotation, select Promax (see Module 18 for an explanation of why Promax is recommended).

• Choose “sort by size” to display factor loadings.

2. Interpret the results of your factor analysis.

a. How many interpretable factors emerged? This is the dimensionality of your scale. Label each interpretable factor by examining the items that it comprises.

b. Which items load on each interpretable factor?

c. Discard any items that fail to load on an interpretable factor.