Factor analysis
You may find yourself having to report a factor analysis in a Research methods or Psychological
Measurement unit, or in a 4th year thesis. There are no strict rules about presentation of the results, but
here is one acceptable version, extracted from a thesis (hence the numbering of the heading). In an
undergraduate research report, you can abbreviate the introductory paragraph.
5.2.2 Factor Analysis of the Mitroff and Denton Survey
A factor analysis of the current results was performed using the Maximum Likelihood method
of extraction. Bartlett’s test of sphericity, which tests the overall significance of all the correlations
within the correlation matrix, was significant (χ2 (903) = 6587.86, p<0.001), indicating that it was
appropriate to use the factor analytic model on this set of data. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of
sampling adequacy indicated that the strength of the relationships among variables was high (KMO =
.87), thus it was acceptable to proceed with the analysis. Initially, 10 factors with eigenvalues greater
than one were extruded. A series of factor analyses were conducted which indicated that four factors
gave the most interpretable solution. An Oblimin rotation was performed since factors were expected to
be correlated. The obtained pattern matrix is displayed in Table 2. Only items with factor loadings of
above .32 are shown.
The first factor was robust, with a high eigenvalue of 8.75, and it accounted for 20.3% of the
variance in the data. Factor two had an eigenvalue of 4.67 and accounted for a further 10.9% of the
variance. The eigenvalues for factors three and four were 2.74 and 2.00 respectively, together
accounting for a further 11% of the total variance.
Factor analysis of the Mitroff and Denton items used in the current study revealed four factors
were sufficient to explain the underlying structure of spirituality at work. The pattern matrix in Table 2
revealed factor one to consist of seven items. This factor was labeled Self Expression and demonstrated
a high internal consistency. The second factor consisted of 15 items including all of the organisation
profile questions except the profitable (unprofitable) dimension and two items about feeling depressed
about the job or organisation and feeling forced to compromise basic values in decisions at work. This
factor was identified as Attitude to Organisation and reflected a high internal consistency. Factor three
Table 2
Pattern Matrix for Mitroff and Denton Items in Current Study
________________________________________________________________________
Scale Items
Factor
1
2
3
4
________________________________________________________________________
Expression of total feelings
.89
Expression of total self
.77
Expression of complete creativity
.75
Expression of complete soul
.75
Expression of total intelligence
.72
Expression of full humour
.62
Felt joy and/or happiness at work
.46
Organisation – caring
.79
Organisation – warm
.77
Organisation – happy
.73
Organisation – ethical
.60
Organisation – sane
.59
Organisation – flexible
.56
Organisation – people-first
.54
Organisation – democratic
.54
Organisation – low anxiety
.51
Organisation – calm
.51
Organisation – tolerant of minorities
.43
Organisation – spiritual
.39
Felt depressed at work because of job
.39
Forced to compromise values at work
.33
Organisation – tolerant of gays
.33
Religion open-minded
.81
Importance of religion
.76
Religion tolerant
.74
Religion inclusive
.65
Attend religious services
.62
Role of spirituality relevant
.77
Role of spirituality appropriate
.72
Role of spirituality at work
.71
Importance of spirituality
.66
Spirituality open-minded
.62
Spirituality inclusive
.60
Spirituality tolerant
.55
Discussed spirituality with co-workers
.54
Role of basic values appropriate
.54
Spiritual experience at work
.50
Role of basic values at work
.47
Role of basic values relevant
.45
Discussed basic values with co-workers
.43
________________________________________________________________________
Percentage of Variance
20.3
10.9
6.38
4.65
Eigenvalue
8.75
4.67
2.74
2.00
Cronbach’s Alpha
.90
.87
.85
.90
________________________________________________________________________
contained five items relating to views about and the importance of religion and was labeled Religiosity.
The internal consistency of this item was also high. The fourth factor was made up of 13 items, all of
which were related to spirituality and basic values. This factor was called Spirituality at Work and was
considered highly reliable. Overall, the factor analysis of the Mitroff and Denton items revealed that
from all items with the same response scale, only three items did not load onto a factor. These items
were about being fearful of losing your job, the contribution of work to the general meaning in
participants’ lives and the profitable (unprofitable) dimension of the organisation profile questions. In
summary, the four factors found were Self Expression, Attitude to Organisation, Religiosity and
Spirituality at Work. These four factors were considered subscales of a Work Related Spirituality Scale
for further analyses.