The Evaluation Methods Center
presents:
Factor Analysis and Outcome Scale Creation for Policy Analysis
David Judkins, Presenter
The presentation and all handouts are available on the Evaluation Methods Center’s
Factor Analysis and Outcome Scale Creation for Policy Analysis page.
What is Factor Analysis
The purpose of factor analysis is to discover simple patterns in the pattern of relationships among the variables. In particular, it seeks to discover if the observed variables can be explained largely or entirely in terms of a much smaller number of variables called factors.
Course Objectives
The course will be about how and whether to use factor analysis as a tool to create one or more summary outcomes in studies where there are many outcomes or outcomes need to be constructed from a large mass of data. The course will include a discussion of general considerations and pitfalls for scale formation. The course will not cover all aspects of factor analysis.
Target Audience
It should be of interest to nearly everyone involved in quantitative evaluations of social interventions. There will be some equations and SAS code, but there will also be simple examples and a lot of focus on what we want out of a scale and how to prepare the defense of the scale in the face of likely skepticism/hostility to new scales. No prior knowledge of factor analysis will be expected.
Dave Judkins
The course will be led by Dave Judkins, one of our Principal Scientists and a fellow of the American Statistical Association. He came to us about a year ago from Westat. Most of the talk will be drawn from his experiences there.
Presentation
The presentation and all handouts are available on the Evaluation Methods Center’s Factor Analysis and Outcome Scale Creation for Policy Analysis page.
This course will meet 3 times, from 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Conference Room One, Atlanta; Potomac Room, Bethesda; Ramp Room 3, Cambridge; and Hatteras Room, Durham
Telecommuters, please call in:
Domestic telecommuters: 1-888-446-7584
International telecommuters: 1-212-372-3742
Participant code: 8350358