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How “G” can Disappear

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

C. Spearman
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Extract

In a recent number of this Journal (June, 1941), Professor Guilford has interestingly called into question the assertion of several authors that Thurstone’s method of analysis (by maximal frequency of zero loadings).

“cannot discover a g factor even when such a factor exists.”

To settle the point, Guilford has submitted to the said analysis a fictitious factor matrix which was expressly devised to contain g. The result was that this factor — in opposition to the assertion mentioned above — did duly make its appearance. Thereupon he fairly enough proceeds to conclude that:

“a g factor will not necessarily escape the analysis”

Not so acceptable, however, is his wide generalization that:

“the problem is typical enough to enable us to predict that a g factor if present will usually be discovered.”

Type
Original Paper
Information
Psychometrika , Volume 6 , Issue 6 , December 1941 , pp. 353 - 354
Copyright
Copyright © 1941 The Psychometric Society

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Footnotes

*

The italics in the present article are the writer's.

*

Spearman, C. Thurstone's Work “Reworked.” J. educ. Psychol., 1939, 30, 1-16.

References

* Wright, Ruth E. A factor analysis of the original Stanford-Binet scale. Psychometrika, 1939, 4, 209-220.