THE ROTATION OF PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS

Doubt has been expressed as to the validity and desirability of rotating principal components. In the present case a battery of tests, which was expected to give clear-cut factors, was analysed by the method of principal components, and the components were rotated orthogonally. It is shown that the results thus obtained were in keeping with those that were expected. It is concluded that, whatever may be the weaknesses of rotation as a technique, it is one which can be applied to principal components quite as well as to factors obtained by other procedures.