The Practice of Social Research

Chapter Sixteen.  Social Statistics


Other Multivariate Techniques
    Path Analysis
    Time-Series Analysis
    Factor Analysis


In this section, we'll take a look at some of the other multivariate techniques used by social researchers.  You won't have to learn how to calculate the statistics involved, but I'd like you to have a basic understanding of what they mean, in case you come across them in your reading of the research literature.

Path analysis lays out a graphic representation of the relationships among several variables.

Time-series analysis examines social processes over time.

Factor analysis is a technique for discovering common dimensions of variation among a number of variables.