Editing Factor analysis (section)

===Disadvantages===
* "...each orientation is equally acceptable mathematically. But different factorial theories proved to differ as much in terms of the orientations of factorial axes for a given solution as in terms of anything else, so that model fitting did not prove to be useful in distinguishing among theories." (Sternberg, 1977<ref name=Sternberg>{{cite book |last=Sternberg |first=R. J. |title=Metaphors of Mind: Conceptions of the Nature of Intelligence |year=1977 |location=New York |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=85–111 }}{{Verify source|date=November 2013}}</ref>). This means all rotations represent different underlying processes, but all rotations are equally valid outcomes of standard factor analysis optimization. Therefore, it is impossible to pick the proper rotation using factor analysis alone.
* Factor analysis can be only as good as the data allows. In psychology, where researchers often have to rely on less valid and reliable measures such as self-reports, this can be problematic.
* Interpreting factor analysis is based on using a "heuristic", which is a solution that is "convenient even if not absolutely true".<ref>{{cite web|title=Factor Analysis |access-date=July 22, 2004 |url=http://comp9.psych.cornell.edu/Darlington/factor.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040818062948/http://comp9.psych.cornell.edu/Darlington/factor.htm |archive-date=August 18, 2004 }}
</ref> More than one interpretation can be made of the same data factored the same way, and factor analysis cannot identify causality.