Tutorial for Bayesian Factor Models
arXiv:2607.11819
The paper presents a reproducible tutorial and the factorverse R package for implementing and comparing recent Bayesian Factor Models, facilitating fast and harmonized analysis of high‑dimensional data.
Abstract
Bayesian Factor Models (BFM) are well-established models that decompose the observed variability in a set of mean-zero, independent, and uncorrelated factors (random effects). While Factor Analysis (FA) was introduced in 1904 by Spearman, there has been renewed interest in inferential and computational methods that can adapt to large and complex modern data sets that are now routinely collected in a variety of applications. We provide reproducible, harmonized, and fast software for a variety of recent BFMs that allows the direct comparison of methods and provides a one-stop tutorial for the BFMs and their implementation. We neither endorse nor recommend any of the methods for a particular application; we simply provide a previously unavailable harmonized and reproducible common platform for BFMs. The accompanying factorverse R package is available at https://github.com/peterdunson/factorverse.
Code available at https://github.com/peterdunson/factorverse