Cluster Analysis - K means or hierarchical?

Posted by Shailaja Rego on Jun 20, 2012; 8:47am
URL: http://spssx-discussion.165.s1.nabble.com/Cluster-Analysis-K-means-or-hierarchical-tp5713716.html

I need help in my research - I have 24 variables and 290 valid cases for cluster analysis. When I perform hierarchical clustering,(Walds method) it gives me almost perfect three clusters (85, 90 and 115 cases in each clusters) the ANOVA is rejected for each of these 24 variables. I have also performed Discriminant analysis which gave me 91.5% accuracy in original grouped cases and 90.5% in cross validated (leave one out ) cases.

My problem is, when I am trying to do a K-means cluster analysis for 3 clusters, Its not giving me proper results, ( 286 in one cluster and 2 each in other)

Even a two cluster solution for k-means is not proper (2 in one cluster and others in other)

Can anyone tell me what's the problem?

I am doing this for my PhD thesis and my guide is insisting on using k-means cluster saying its more robust. Is  this true? Is it not possible for me to use hierarchical cluster analysis?

Please help me.

Thanks in advance

Shailaja