The Constraining of Parameters in Restricted Factor Analysis

In restricted factor analysis each of the elements in the matrices (of factor loadings, factor correlations, and unique variances and covariances) can be fixed, free to be estimated, or constrained. In this paper it is argued that the common practice of constraining some parameters at 0 often is not psychologically meaning ful. Alternative procedures for constraining parameters are presented and illustrated using data based on the Luria model. Index terms: Constrained parame ters, Factor analysis, Factor correlations, Factor loadings, Factor uniqueness.