COMPARISON OF BAYESIAN AND FREQUENTIST FACTOR ANALYSIS METHODS: BUSS AND PERRY AGGRESSION QUESTIONNAIRE EXAMPLE

Abstract

This study aims to compare the results of the factor analysis performed with Frequentist and Bayesian approaches. The number of sub-dimensions of the measurement tool obtained from different methods, the variation of the items in the sub-dimensions, and the fit statistics' differentiation were examined. 778 students constitute the study sample. Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire-short form was used in the study. The results obtained from Bayesian factor analysis and maximum likelihood, minimum residuals, principal axis factoring, ordinary least squares, weighted least squares, generalized least squares  factor extraction methods, which are frequentist factor analysis methods, were compared. As a result of the study, the number of factors obtained from different factor extraction methods was the same, and the measurement tool had a four-dimensional structure. The analyses were performed in R,and JASP the factor loading cut-off was set as .40. As a result of study, Bayesian approach also yields valid results in terms of factor analysis, similar to the frequentist approach. Bayesian factor analysis method allowed to keep the measurement tool's structure, and there is no need to remove items from the measurement tool. So the researchers were recommended to include the Bayesian factor analysis in their studies.