MOGUCNOSTI PRIMENE FAKTORSKE ANALIZE U SOCIOLOGIJI: PRIMER PROUCAVANJA VREDNOSNIH ORIJENTACIJA2/The Use of Factor Analysis in Sociology: The Example of Value Orientation Analysis

The widespread use of factor analysis in social research requires a detailed review of epistemological and methodological aspects of its use. This is the only way to overcome "usual manner" of understanding factor analysis as a statistical method. In methodological terms, it is necessary to provide not only theoretical definition of the basic concepts and theoretical assumptions related to use of factor analysis, but also adequate operational definition. The importance of these theoretical prerequisites is being shown through two types of factor analysis: exploratory vs. confirmatory factor analysis. In addion, this paper gives particular attention to fulfill the basic epistemological principles. In this paper an example of the use of confirmatory factor analysis will be given. This will be done by carrying out a confirmatory factor analysis on data from a study in the field of value orientation. This type of factor analysis is used with the intention of revealing and understanding latent constructs. In the context of value orientation analysis, the concepts of authoritarian collectivism and patriarchalism will ilustrate the concept of latent dimensions. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]