Factor analysis and principal component analysis

Within the vast archipelago of data-analysis tools, factor analy-sis and principal component analysis are among the islands more frequently visited by human scientists. Their success is due both to the century-old status they have reached, and to the fact that they are easy to apply nowadays, thanks, in particular, to the availability of dedicated data analysis software packages. Today even the most inexperienced student can avail of this user-friendly software, entrusting it with full responsibility for the numerous operations the techniques themselves require. This modus operandi produces results of scarce substantial interest and dubious scientific quality. This book is devoted to those who wish to exercise full intellectual control over the tools they employ, while acquiring the ability to critically appraise the results obtained in relation to the objectives of their research projects.