Multidimensional scaling
Multidimensional Scaling
a multivariate statistical technique concerned mainly with the relationships, differences, similarities, interaction, substitutability, etc. among behavioural data.
Multidimensional Scaling
Multidimensional scaling (MDS) can be considered to be an alternative to factor analysis (see
Factor Analysis), and it is typically used as an
exploratory method. In general, the goal of the analysis is to detect meaningful underlying dimensions that allow the researcher to explain observed similarities or dissimilarities (distances) between the investigated objects. In factor analysis, the similarities between objects (e.g., variables) are expressed in the correlation matrix. With MDS one may analyze not only correlation matrices but also any kind of similarity or dissimilarity matrix (including sets of measures that are not internally consistent, e.g., do not follow the rule of transitivity).
For more information, see the
Multidimensional Scaling chapter.