Structure matrix in factor analysis contains what type of information?

Structure matrix in factor analysis contains what type of information?

• A. A matrix in factor analysis containing the correlation coefficients for each variable on each factor; under orthogonal rotation it is the same as the pattern matrix.
• B. A matrix of p-values for factor loadings.
• C. A matrix of residual covariances.
• D. A matrix of model fit statistics.

Answer: (D)

In factor analysis, the structure matrix shows the correlations between each observed variable and each factor. It tells you how strongly a variable is related to each underlying factor, helping you see which variables are associated with which factors. When you rotate factors orthogonally (factors uncorrelated), the structure matrix is the same as the pattern matrix. In oblique rotation, the two matrices differ because the factors are allowed to correlate, so the structure matrix reflects those correlations. The other kinds of matrices described—p-values for loadings, residual covariances, or model-fit statistics—are not what the structure matrix contains.

In factor analysis, the structure matrix shows the correlations between each observed variable and each factor. It tells you how strongly a variable is related to each underlying factor, helping you see which variables are associated with which factors. When you rotate factors orthogonally (factors uncorrelated), the structure matrix is the same as the pattern matrix. In oblique rotation, the two matrices differ because the factors are allowed to correlate, so the structure matrix reflects those correlations. The other kinds of matrices described—p-values for loadings, residual covariances, or model-fit statistics—are not what the structure matrix contains.