- Un-rotated factors are typically not very interpretable (most factors are correlated with may variable).
- Factors are rotated to make them more meaningful and easier to interpret (each variable is associated with a minimal number of factors).
- Different rotation methods may result in the identification of somewhat different factors.
- Varimax attempts to minimize the number of variables that have high loadings on a factor. This enhances the interpretability of the factors.
- Other common rotational method used include Oblique rotations which yield correlated factors.
-Oblique rotations are less frequently used because their results are more difficult to summarize.
- Other rotational methods include :
- Quartimax (Orthogonal)
- Equamax (Orthogonal)
- Promax (Oblique)