In experimental design, what is another name for an independent variable or predictor that is also used synonymously with a latent variable in factor analysis?

In experimental design, what is another name for an independent variable or predictor that is also used synonymously with a latent variable in factor analysis?

• A. Factor
• B. Interaction
• C. Predictor
• D. Moderator

Answer: (A)

Factor is the word that fits both roles. In experimental design, a factor is an independent variable you manipulate to see its effect on an outcome, with each factor potentially having different levels. In factor analysis, the underlying, unobserved constructs are called latent variables or factors. So the same term applies to the manipulated variable in experiments and to the latent constructs in factor analysis. The other terms don’t capture both uses: an interaction describes a combined effect of variables, a moderator is a variable that changes the strength of a relationship, and predictor is a general label for an independent variable but not the term used for latent variables in factor analysis.

Factor is the word that fits both roles. In experimental design, a factor is an independent variable you manipulate to see its effect on an outcome, with each factor potentially having different levels. In factor analysis, the underlying, unobserved constructs are called latent variables or factors. So the same term applies to the manipulated variable in experiments and to the latent constructs in factor analysis. The other terms don’t capture both uses: an interaction describes a combined effect of variables, a moderator is a variable that changes the strength of a relationship, and predictor is a general label for an independent variable but not the term used for latent variables in factor analysis.