The most recent data on beam asymmetries, Σ, and beam-target asymmetries, E, from the CLAS Collaboration, together with the previous data on differential cross sections and beam asymmetries from the CLAS and LEPS Collaborations, for the γn → K + Σ − reaction are studied based on an effective Lagrangian approach in the tree-level Born approximation. The t-channel K and K * (892) exchanges, the u-channel Σ exchange, the interaction current, and the exchanges of N , ∆, and their excited states in the s channel are considered in constructing the reaction amplitudes to describe the available experimental data. The reaction mechanisms of γn → K + Σ − are analyzed, and the associated resonances' parameters are extracted. The numerical results show that the ∆ exchange and the N (1710)1/2 + , N (1880)1/2 + , N (1900)3/2 + , and ∆(1920)3/2 + resonance exchanges in the s-channel dominate the γn → K + Σ − reaction in the lower energy region, and the t-channel K * (892) exchange plays a crucial role at forward angles in the higher energy region.