Step 5: Interpretation
Interpretation involves the researcher examining which variables are attributable to a factor, and giving that factor a name or theme. For example, a factor may have included five variables which all relate to pain perception; therefore the researcher would create a label of “pain perception” for that factor. Traditionally, at least two or three variables must load on a factor so it can be given a meaningful interpretation. The labelling of factors is a subjective, theoretical, and inductive process. Henson and Roberts (2006) note “the meaningfulness of latent factors is ultimately dependent on researcher definition”. The reason for thorough and systematic factor analyses is to isolate items with high loadings in the resultant pattern matrices. In other words, it is a search to find those factors that taken together explain the majority of the responses. In the presented example in Table 6, seven factors have been produced. If the researcher is content with these factors, these should then be operationalised and descriptively labelled. It is important that these labels or constructs reflect the theoretical and conceptual intent.