factor analysis

noun

, Statistics.

1. the use of one of several methods for reducing a set of variables to a lesser number of new variables, each of which is a function of one or more of the original variables.

factor analysis

noun

1. statistics any of several techniques for deriving from a number of given variables a smaller number of different, more useful, variables

Word History and Origins

Origin of factor analysis¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

So he read about factor analysis, which had become a little bit fashionable at the time.

From Freakonomics