How do I interpret variables which load on more than one factor?
In a factor analysis it is common to find one item, or variable, which has a high loading on more than one factor.
More specifically different aspects of the same item may load on these factors. Each particular aspect can be deduced by examining common features pertaining to the other items which load on the factors.
For example suppose one item measures total score on an IQ test. The score may be related to scores on different subtests which might examine language ability, logical thinking or spatial ability. The total IQ score might correlate with other tests which measure these specific skills and each of these skills might, therefore, be shown by different factors each involving specific tests of each skill and (overall) IQ score.