factor analysis

(1.7 hours to learn)

Summary

Factor analysis is a statistical method used to describe variability among observed, correlated variables in terms of a potentially lower number of unobserved variables called factors. In other words, it is possible, for example, that variations in three or four observed variables mainly reflect the variations in fewer unobserved variables. Factor analysis searches for such joint variations in response to unobserved latent variables. The observed variables are modelled as linear combinations of the potential factors, plus "error" terms. [from Wikipedia]

Context

This concept has the prerequisites:

Goals

  • Understand the probabilistic interpretation of factor analysis and how the model is closely related to a number of other common probabilistic models used in machine learning.
  • How can latent variables capture higher-order correlations? How does this apply to factor analysis?

Core resources (read/watch one of the following)

-Free-

Bayesian Reasoning and Machine Learning

-Paid-

Supplemental resources (the following are optional, but you may find them useful)

-Paid-

See also