What statistical procedure identifies clusters of related items on a test and reveals underlying dimensions of performance?

• A. Latent learning
• B. Savant syndrome
• C. Intelligence
• D. Factor analysis

Answer: (D)

Factor analysis identifies clusters of related test items and reveals the underlying dimensions that drive performance. By examining patterns of how items correlate with one another, this procedure groups items that tend to vary together into factors. Those factors represent latent traits or abilities, such as verbal skills, quantitative reasoning, or memory, that explain why certain items covary. Through extracting and sometimes rotating these factors, we gain a clearer picture of the test’s dimensional structure and see which items tap the same underlying ability. This focus on uncovering common causes of covariation makes factor analysis the best fit for identifying item clusters and the dimensions they reflect.