Discriminant Analysis
- A statistical technique that classifies observations into predefined groups using measured characteristics.
- Identifies which variables best distinguish between groups.
- Applied in fields like psychology and marketing to separate or predict group membership.
Definition
Section titled “Definition”Discriminant analysis is a statistical method used for classifying data into groups or classes based on certain characteristics of the data.
Explanation
Section titled “Explanation”Discriminant analysis uses measured features of observations to determine the characteristics most useful for distinguishing between two or more groups. Data are collected on relevant measures (for example, standardized tests of memory, attention, and other abilities), and the analysis finds the variables or combinations of variables that separate the groups so that new observations can be assigned to one of the groups.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Studying medication effects in Alzheimer’s disease
Section titled “Studying medication effects in Alzheimer’s disease”A researcher collects data on cognitive abilities for individuals who have received a medication and for those who have not. Discriminant analysis can identify which cognitive measures best distinguish the two groups. For instance, it might find that individuals who have received the medication have significantly higher scores on measures of memory and attention compared to those who have not.
Marketing — predicting customer purchases
Section titled “Marketing — predicting customer purchases”A marketing team collects customer data such as demographics and purchasing habits. Discriminant analysis can identify the characteristics most useful for predicting which customers are likely to purchase a product. For instance, it might find that customers who are middle-aged, have a high income, and live in a particular geographic region are more likely to purchase the product than other customers.
Use cases
Section titled “Use cases”- Psychology: studying differences between groups of individuals (e.g., with or without a disorder, or treatment effects).
- Marketing: identifying characteristics of customers most likely to purchase a product.
- General: any context where identifying features that distinguish predefined groups is useful.
Related terms
Section titled “Related terms”- Classification