Abstract:
Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is often used in the scale development process to
determine the existence of latent factors and establish construct validity. In this study, EFA was
performed on data from a department perception inventory deployed prior to and after a team
retreat. Since EFA is known to require large sample sizes, this study examined whether factors
could be extracted in situations with smaller samples, and whether the results from the factor
loadings could be replicated. Responses to the inventory prior to the team retreat (n = 87) and
after (n = 83) were obtained from marketing and communication professionals from a healthcare
company in the mountain west. Parallel analysis and minimum average partials supported a twofactor solution while a scree test supported a three-factor solution. Principal axis factoring with
promax rotation was used as the factor retention method for both two- and three-factor solutions.
Due to the availability of pre- and post-event data, external replicability analysis was performed
which led to the decision to retain three factors. However, replication analysis indicated that
neither factor solution was perfect. Notwithstanding, the three-factor solution made the most
theoretical sense, highlighting the importance of theory in factor retention and construct validity.
The results reaffirmed an existing framework in EFA where replication analysis helped identify
problematic variables to be retooled within the scale development process.
