Simulated data by Finch and West (1997) / for instruction on factor analysis

For those who teach statistics and are seeking another dataset that may be useful for teaching about exploratory and/or confirmatory factor analysis, I have generated simulated data (n=2951) based on the means, standard deviations, and correlations for 12 questionnaire items described in Tables 1 and 2 of Finch and West (1997). Finch and West (1997) analyzed data shared with them by Briggs and colleagues, where participants had responded to Snyder's (1974) Self-Monitoring Scale on a scale from 1=disagree strongly to 5=agree strongly. Below are the subset of 12 items Finch and West (1997) analyzed and for which summary data were provided in the abovementioned tables. I have created two versions of the data: an SPSS data file containing the simulated data, where the content of the items will appear in tables of factor loadings (when performing EFA); an SPSS data file where only the names of the items will appear. The former version may be helpful when working with students on naming factors.

Finch and West (1997) analyzed the data using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). They based their three-factor model on the factor analytic results of Briggs et al. (1980). Their hypothesized factors and corresponding factors are as follows: 

Extroversion: SM12, SM14, SM22, SM23

Other-directedness: SM7, SM13, SM15, SM19

Acting factor: SM5, SM8, SM18, SM20

*Note: Since the data here has been simulated, it will necessarily yield differences with Finch and West's (1997) report (if using CFA). Additionally, the data I have simulated does not have exactly the same distributional characteristics (in terms of univariate skew and kurtosis) as the data Finch and West (1997) analyzed.

Snyder (1974) Self-monitoring items analyzed by Finch and West (1997)

SM5: I can make impromptu speeches even on topics about which I have almost no information.

SM7: When I am uncertain how to act in a social situation, I look to the behavior of others for cues.

SM8: I would probably make a good actor.

SM12: In a group of people I am rarely the center of attention.

SM13: In different situations and with different people, I often act like very different persons.

SM14: I am not particularly good at making other people like me.

SM15: Even if I am not enjoying myself, I often pretend to be having a good time.

SM18: I have considered being an entertainer.

SM19: In order to get along and be liked, I tend to be what people expect me to be rather than anything else.

SM20: I have never been good at games like charades or improvisational acting.

SM22: At a party I let others keep the jokes and stories going.

SM23: I feel a bit awkward in company and do not show up quite so well as I should. 

I used Daryanto's macro to simulate the data. If you would to simulate your own data with his macro, here is the SPSS file containing the summary data from the article. 

Citations

Finch, J.F. and West, S.G. (1997) The investigation of personality structure: Statistical models. Journal of Research in Personality, 31, 439-485.

Snyder, M. (1974). Self-monitoring of expressive behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 30(4), 526–537.

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