THE FACTOR ANALYSIS AS METHOD OF CLASSIFICATION REGIONS IN POLAND

The article presents the results of empirical studies in which the method of factor analysis was applied. Application of this method allowed to isolate the basic principal factors from the given set of variables describing the socio-economic development of voivodships. These factors may be interpreted as determinants of the regions' development and make possible the comparative analysis of Polish regions. The values of isolated principal factors were the basis for arrangement and classification of voivodehips into uniform typological groups.