Date:         Tue, 4 Sep 2001 10:18:31 -0400
Reply-To:     rmarch@sfwmd.gov
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Dick March <rmarch@SFWMD.GOV>
Organization: South Florida Water Management District
Subject:      Re: Factor analysis and dichotomous variables
Comments: To: Gijs Dekkers <gd@PLAN.BE>
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

 Gijs, In addition to the references provided by Laura Copeland, you may
ant to check the following websites:
APPENDIX III-C :  Discussion of Factor Analysis with Dichotomous
Variables  ,Haley RW, Kurt TL. Self-reported Exposure to Neurotoxic
Chemical Combinations in the Gulf War: A Cross-sectional Epidemiologic
Study. JAMA 1997; 277:231-237
http://www.swmed.edu/home_pages/epidemi/gws/app_3c.htm

Course notes from Quantitative Research in Public Administration, G.
David Garson, Instructor, North Carolina State University E-mail
David_Garson@ncsu.edu; Tel. 919-515-3067; Fax 919-515-7333
http://www2.chass.ncsu.edu/garson/pa765/factor.htm
Note that Garson also references  the Kim and Mueller text cited by Laura
Copeland. It should be noted that S. C. Rowat in a study, Chemical
Susceptibility, Injury, And Reactivity: Mechanisms and Measurement,
identifies 19 Factor Analysis Study Criteria and Their Compliance by 4
Studies in the Literature. One of these criteria is "Avoid dichotomous
(yes/no) variables unless addressed with  special techniques." References
cited by Rowat include:
 Comrey AL. Common methodological problems in factor analytic studies. J
consult clin psychol. 46:648-659 (1978).  and
Streiner DL. Figuring out factors: the use and misuse of factor analysis.
Can J Psychiatry.
39(3):135-40 (1994)..
The URL for the Rowat study is:
http://www.rowatworks.com/Science/CSIR/C-SIR_Table-2.html#Anchor-Table-14210

Dick March
South Florida Water Management District

Gijs Dekkers wrote:

> Dear All,
>
> Can anybody tell me whether or not it is possible to do a
> factor-analysis on a data set which combines continous variables with
> some dichotomous variables? If so, where can I find literature and/or
> examples of this?
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Gijs
>
> --
> dr. Gijs Dekkers
> Federal Planing Agency
> Algemene Directie
> Kunstlaan 47-49
> B 1000 Brussels, Belgium

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