A Method of Factor Analysis by Means of which all Coordinates of the Factor Matrix are given Simultaneously

In general, the methods of factor analysis developed during the past five years are based on the reduction of the correlational matrix by successive steps. The first factor loadings are determined and eliminated from the correlational matrix, giving a residual matrix. This process is continued for successive factor loadings until the elements of the last obtained residual matrix may be regarded as due to chance. The method outlined in this paper assumes the maximum number of factors m in the correlational matrix. The m factor vectors are solved for simultaneously. Once the m factor vectors are found, any vectors having only negligible factor loadings may be discarded.