dissimilarity coefficient

an index of difference or distance between two objects, variables, or samples. It may be based on correlation, with lower values indicating more difference or distance, or variance, with higher values indicating greater difference or distance. A dissimilarity coefficient often is used in multivariate procedures such as cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling, and principal components analysis. Also called distance measure. Compare similarity coefficient.

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Psychology term of the day

January 29th 2025

natural reinforcer

a stimulus or circumstance, such as food or water, that is inherently reinforcing and does not depend on learning to become desirable. Natural reinforcers are more precisely known as unconditioned or primary reinforcers (see primary reinforcement), in contrast to conditioned or secondary reinforcers, which are initially neutral stimuli (e.g., tones, lights) that become desirable through training (see secondary reinforcement).