Exploring the Factor Structure of Neurocognitive Measures in Older Individuals |
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| Authors: | Nadine Correia Santos Patrício Soares Costa Liliana Amorim Pedro Silva Moreira Pedro Cunha Jorge Cotter Nuno Sousa |
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| Institution: | 1. Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.; 2. ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.; 3. Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave—EPE, Guimarães, Portugal.; Texas Tech University Health Science Centers, UNITED STATES, |
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| Abstract: | Here we focus on factor analysis from a best practices point of view, by investigating the factor structure of neuropsychological tests and using the results obtained to illustrate on choosing a reasonable solution. The sample (n=1051 individuals) was randomly divided into two groups: one for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and principal component analysis (PCA), to investigate the number of factors underlying the neurocognitive variables; the second to test the “best fit” model via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). For the exploratory step, three extraction (maximum likelihood, principal axis factoring and principal components) and two rotation (orthogonal and oblique) methods were used. The analysis methodology allowed exploring how different cognitive/psychological tests correlated/discriminated between dimensions, indicating that to capture latent structures in similar sample sizes and measures, with approximately normal data distribution, reflective models with oblimin rotation might prove the most adequate. |
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