clustering variables (binary scale)

[Gekko]

hi,

does anybody know, the best method and the ideal measure for clustering variables (!not respondents!) in spss?

a method like: linkage, ward, centroid, neighbour, median...
a measure like: euclyd dist, phi-4, lambda, jaccard, rogers and tanimoto...

the variables are binary (0,1)
and some are diseases (no, yes) out of a set of possible diseases, and some are about nutrition like was try to eat healthy (no, yes), every day the same (no, yes)...


thanks
stefan

[Melissa Ives]

The ideal method and measure really depends on what you are trying to do
and your data.
For example:

Ward's (1963) minimum distance method is a hierarchical method that
groups cases to maximize between-group differences and minimize
within-group differences (i.e., optimizes an F-Statistic).  It keeps
grouping the most similar pair of cases/clusters until there is just one
cluster.

The Squared Euclidean Distance between cases/cluster centers.  This
places greater weights on cases that are further apart and serves to
isolate high-risk groups faster.

However some method group all records into one big cluster and then
breaks out records based on the measure chosen.

Try looking at:
Aldenderfer, M. S., & Blashfield, R. K. (1984). Cluster analysis. In M.
S. Lewis-Beck, Quantitative applications in the social sciences (SAGE
University Paper 44. ). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Rapkin, B. D., & Luke, D. A. (1993). Cluster analysis in community
research: Epistemology and practice. American Journal of Community
Psychology, 21, 247-277.

Melissa

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Gekko
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 3:38 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [SPSSX-L] clustering variables (binary scale)

hi,

does anybody know, the best method and the ideal measure for clustering
variables (!not respondents!) in spss?

a method like: linkage, ward, centroid, neighbour, median...
a measure like: euclyd dist, phi-4, lambda, jaccard, rogers and
tanimoto...

the variables are binary (0,1)
and some are diseases (no, yes) out of a set of possible diseases, and
some are about nutrition like was try to eat healthy (no, yes), every
day the same (no, yes)...


thanks
stefan


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[Zetu, Dan]

With binary data (cases or variables), one should use hierarchical
clustering with the Jaccard coefficient of disimilarity. SPSS has this
feature embedded.

-------------------------------
Dan Zetu
Analytical Consultant
R. L. Polk & Co.
248-728-7278
[hidden email]

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Melissa Ives
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 3:46 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: clustering variables (binary scale)

The ideal method and measure really depends on what you are trying to do
and your data.
For example:

Ward's (1963) minimum distance method is a hierarchical method that
groups cases to maximize between-group differences and minimize
within-group differences (i.e., optimizes an F-Statistic).  It keeps
grouping the most similar pair of cases/clusters until there is just one
cluster.

The Squared Euclidean Distance between cases/cluster centers.  This
places greater weights on cases that are further apart and serves to
isolate high-risk groups faster.

However some method group all records into one big cluster and then
breaks out records based on the measure chosen.

Try looking at:
Aldenderfer, M. S., & Blashfield, R. K. (1984). Cluster analysis. In M.
S. Lewis-Beck, Quantitative applications in the social sciences (SAGE
University Paper 44. ). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Rapkin, B. D., & Luke, D. A. (1993). Cluster analysis in community
research: Epistemology and practice. American Journal of Community
Psychology, 21, 247-277.

Melissa

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Gekko
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 3:38 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [SPSSX-L] clustering variables (binary scale)

hi,

does anybody know, the best method and the ideal measure for clustering
variables (!not respondents!) in spss?

a method like: linkage, ward, centroid, neighbour, median...
a measure like: euclyd dist, phi-4, lambda, jaccard, rogers and
tanimoto...

the variables are binary (0,1)
and some are diseases (no, yes) out of a set of possible diseases, and
some are about nutrition like was try to eat healthy (no, yes), every
day the same (no, yes)...


thanks
stefan


--
View this message in context:
http://www.nabble.com/clustering-variables-%28binary-scale%29-tp15177238
p15177238.html
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CONFIDENTIAL information and is intended only for the use of the
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