These guidelines typically are stated in terms of either
the minimum necessary sample size, N, or the minimum
ratio of N to the number of variables being
analyzed, p. Many of these guidelines were reviewed
and discussed by Arrindell and van der Ende (1985)
and more recently by Velicer and Fava (1998). Let us
consider a sampling of recommendations regarding
absolute sample size. Gorsuch (1983) recommended
that N should be at least 100, and Kline (1979) supported
this recommendation. Guilford (1954) argued
that N should be at least 200, and Cattell (1978)
claimed the minimum desirable N to be 250. Comrey
and Lee (1992) offered a rough rating scale for adequate
sample sizes in factor analysis: 100 = poor,
200 = fair, 300 = good, 500 = very good, 1,000 or
more = excellent. They urged researchers to obtain
samples of 500 or more observations whenever possible
in factor analytic studies