cluster analysis

a method of multivariate data analysis in which individuals or units are placed into distinct subgroups based on their strong similarity with regard to specific attributes. For example, one might use cluster analysis to form groups of individual children on the basis of their levels of anxiety, aggression, delinquency, and cognitive difficulties so as to identify useful typologies that could increase understanding of co-occurring mental disorders and lead to more appropriate treatments for specific individuals. There are several different forms of cluster analysis—including hierarchical clustering and latent class analysis—and each is appropriate for use with different types of data. Results of a cluster analysis often are presented in a dendrogram. Also called clustering.

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Psychology term of the day

December 22nd 2024

retinal image

the inverted picture of an external object formed on the retina of the eye. The resolution of the image varies with the diameter of the pupil, the focus becoming sharper as illumination of the object increases and the aperture of the pupil decreases.