BACKGROUND I review some key developments in the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) model from the 1940s to the present day with Yela as the reference point. METHOD The study is organized in three parts. The first part (until 1950) discusses EFA during Yela's formative years. The second part reviews the evolution of the model from Yela's return to Spain to the end of the century: the development of factor analysis (FA) as a statistical method, and the advent, and unstoppable rise, of the confirmatory model. An interlude follows in which some key problems are discussed. The third part discusses the resurgence of the model in the 21st century and the advances made in this period. I end by discussing the current situation in the field. DISCUSSION I discuss the validity of Yela's views regarding FA, and criticise how technical and instrumental developments have favoured, in most cases, mindless applications of the technique in which the substantive and design aspects of the research are grossly neglected. CONCLUSIONS Although new technical developments are still needed, EFA is finally at par with any structural model. So, its time again to give importance to what is really important: the design and the substantive aspects.

中文翻译：

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因子分析的七个十年：从叶拉到现在。

背景 我回顾了探索性因素分析 (EFA) 模型从 1940 年代到现在以 Yela 为参考点的一些关键发展。方法 本研究分为三个部分。第一部分（直到 1950 年）讨论了 Yela 成长时期的全民教育。第二部分回顾了从耶拉回到西班牙到世纪末模型的演变：因子分析（FA）作为一种统计方法的发展，以及验证模型的出现和不可阻挡的兴起。接下来是一个插曲，其中讨论了一些关键问题。第三部分讨论了该模式在 21 世纪的复兴及其在这一时期取得的进展。我最后讨论了该领域的现状。讨论 我讨论了 Yela 关于 FA 的观点的有效性，并批评技术和工具的发展如何在大多数情况下有利于该技术的盲目应用，在这些应用中，研究的实质性和设计方面被严重忽视。结论 尽管仍然需要新的技术发展，EFA 最终与任何结构模型相提并论。所以，是时候再次重视真正重要的东西了：设计和实质性方面。