Discriminant analysis for two data sets in IRd with probability densities f and g can be based on the estimation of the set G = {x : f(x) ≥ g(x)}. We consider applications where it is appropriate to assume that the region G has a smooth boundary. In particular, this assumption makes sense if...

Unobserved heterogeneity is a serious but often neglected problem in structural equation modelling (SEM) challenging the validity of many empirical results. Recently, a finite mixture approach to SEM has been proposed to resolve this problem but until now only a few studies analyse the...

Empirical applications of structural equation modeling (SEM) typically rest on the assumption that the analysed sample is homogenous with respect to the underlying structural model or that homogenous subsamples have been formed based on a priori knowledge. However, researchers often are ignorant...

The problem of selecting a clustering algorithm from the myriad of algorithms has been discussed in recent years. Many researchers have attacked this problem by using the concept of admissibility (e.g. Fisher and Van Ness, 1971, Yadohisa, et al., 1999). We propose a new criterion called the...

This paper discusses the admissibility of agglomerative hierarchical clustering algorithms with respect to space distortion and monotonicity, as defined by Yadohisa et al. and Batagelj, respectively. Several admissibilities and their properties are given for selecting a clustering algorithm....

In empirical applications of structural equation modeling researchers often assume that the sample under investigation is homogenous unless observed characteristics allow for a division of the sample into mutual exclusive homogenous subgroups. If such information is not available, unobserved...

As an explorative technique, duster analysis provides a description or a reduction in the dimension of the data. It classifies a set of observations into two or more mutually exclusive unknown groups based on combinations of many variables. Its aim is to construct groups in such a way that the...