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Friday, June 26, 2009

Cluster Analysis

The term cluster analysis was first used by Tryon in 1939. Cluster analysis is a multivariate technique, which is used for segmentation in research. In cluster analysis, a cluster is a group of similar objects. In marketing research, cluster analysis is used for segmentation of similar objects, which is similar in buying habits, demographic characteristics, or psychographics.

Statistics Solutions can assist with cluster analysis and additional statistical analysis. Contact Statistics today for a free 30-minute consultation.

Cluster analysis is also known as the data reduction technique. In other words, cluster analysis is an exploratory data analysis technique that groups similar objects in such a way that the distance between the two objects is minimal, or the group of similar objects is grouped in such a way that the association between the variables is maximized. Cluster analysis seeks to minimize the within group variance and maximize the between group variance. For example, it can be used if an A FMCG Company wants to match the profile of the target audience in terms of lifestyle, attitude and perception. In this case, the marketing manager prepares a questionnaire with 20 statements and then performs a cluster analysis on the 20 statements in three clusters. These days, researchers have developed similar techniques for cluster analysis, which have different names, like numerical taxonomy, Q-analysis, typology analysis, classification analysis, etc. To perform cluster analysis, there are a number of techniques available that are based on the procedure, which is used to measure the distance and clustering algorithm.

Assumptions in cluster analysis:

1. The sample taken for cluster analysis should be representative of the population.
2. In cluster analysis, it is assumed that multiple collinearity is minimal.
3. In cluster analysis, the outlier affects the results. Thus, cluster analysis assumes that there is an absence of outliers.
4. In cluster analysis, data may be metric, non-metric, or a combination of both.
5. Naturally occurring groups must be present in the data.
The process of cluster analysis:
1. A cluster analysis starts with the N×K database.
2. In the second step of cluster analysis, different steps are used to create the N×N matrix. In this N×N matrix, each case is similar or dissimilar to another case, based on the k number of variables.
3. In the third step, by using different algorithms, subjects are sorted in to statistically significant groups. In this group, subjects are as homogenous or different to each other as possible.

In cluster analysis, the N×N matrix is created by using one of the following methods: Squared Euclidean Distance, Pearson correlation coefficient, Cosine of vector variables, Minkowski metric, Mahalanobis D2, City block or Manhattan distances, Jaccard’s coefficient, Chebychev distance metric, Gower’s coefficient, etc. In SPSS, most of the techniques are available.

Clustering algorithms: In cluster analysis cluster algorithms are of two types:

1. Hierarchical methods: Cluster analysis in hierarchical method algorithms involve single average (or nearest neighbor), complete average (or furthest neighbor), average linkage, centroid methods, etc.
2. Non-hierarchical methods: A Cluster analysis non-hierarchical algorithm involves sequential threshold methods, parallel methods, optimization methods, etc.

Determining the number of clusters in the data: In cluster analysis, there is no particular procedure that is used to determine the cluster in the data. The following procedure is used in cluster analysis to determine the cluster in the data:

1. Clustering coefficient: In cluster analysis, the coefficient size shows the homogeneity of the objects being merged.
2. Dendrogram: Dendrogram is the pictorial representation of the cluster in the data. In dendrogram, we can see how the observations are combined in each cluster.
3. Vertical icicle: Vertical icicle is another pictorial way to find the number of clusters in the data. In vertical icicle, blanks are clusters and X’s indicate the number of members per cluster.

Cluster analysis and SPSS: Cluster analysis can be conducted using SPSS. To conduct cluster analysis in SPSS, click on the “Analysis” option and select “classify option” and select “required cluster analysis.”

Monday, June 15, 2009

Dissertation Statistics Help

Any student working on a dissertation can benefit from dissertation statistics help. Dissertation statistics help makes the process of writing a dissertation easy, manageable and understandable.

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Dissertation statistics help can provide invaluable help, guidance and assistance to anyone writing a dissertation.The dissertation is the hardest and most challenging part of any student’s academic career. For this reason, it is important to seek dissertation statistics help. Unfortunately, many students do not choose to seek dissertation statistics help until they have reached a ‘stopping point’ or a problem. And while dissertation statistics help can fix that problem, the student has already wasted valuable time as he or she did not seek dissertation statistics help sooner.

Dissertation statistics help provides help throughout the dissertation—from the very beginning, to the very end of the dissertation. Dissertation statistics help is provided by trained professionals who are well versed in all things regarding dissertations and statistics. Dissertation statistics help is also provided by people who have already received their doctoral degrees, and thus dissertation statistics help is provided by people who have gone through every single stress that the student has gone through. This can be important as it is important to be able to understand the needs of the student who is acquiring dissertation statistics help.

Dissertations rely heavily on statistics and unfortunately many students do not know enough about statistics to be successful in their research and design for their project. Here again dissertation statistics help can assist the student. Dissertation statistics help will step in at the very beginning of the project and will help the student design that project properly. Dissertation statistics help will go over every single thing that needs to be done and dissertation statistics help will make sure that the student has the proper tools to complete the project. There will be no “wrong turns’ with dissertation statistics help, as dissertation statistics help will be there assisting the student every single step of the way.

One of the most important advantages of obtaining dissertation statistics help is the availability and accessibility of dissertation statistics help. While all students have advisors, these advisors are not always available. What’s more, most time these advisors tell students what is wrong AFTER the student has already made the mistake. Thus, the student must go back and continually redo aspects of his or her dissertation. Because dissertation statistics help is always available, however, the student will not make costly mistakes because he or she has someone looking over his/her shoulder and ensuring that he or she does not make any mistakes. Thus, much time will be saved simply by having dissertation statistics help.

Dissertation statistics help is well worth any cost associated with it. In fact, if a student is debating whether or not to use dissertation statistics help, a simple phone call can clear any misconceptions about the price of dissertation statistics help. Once the student inquires about the pricing, he or she will quickly see that the time and energy saved by having dissertation statistics help is well worth what the student must pay for the dissertation statistics help.

Dissertation statistics help will make the acquisition of any dissertation easier and more obtainable. While other students who do not seek dissertation statistics help struggle with many aspects of their dissertation, the student who is smart enough to seek dissertation statistics help will finish on-time and with much less stress. Because dissertation statistics help provides guidance, help, and assistance throughout the entire process, the student is sure to finish on-time and with a great amount of success.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Thesis and Dissertation Consultants

There is nothing more stressful and difficult in a student’s career than writing a dissertation. The dissertation is a project that all students must finish in order to obtain their doctoral degree. The dissertation itself is a lengthy document that details work that has been done on a particular topic. This topic must be new to the field in which the student is studying and therefore the dissertation proves to be one of the most challenging aspects of the doctoral degree.

Because the dissertation is so challenging, there is help available. This help can be found in thesis and dissertation consultants. Thesis and dissertation consultants provide expert advice and help on dissertations. Thesis and dissertation consultants are readily available to help any student who is working on his or her dissertation.

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Thesis and dissertation consultants first start with an initial consultation or conversation where the student details his or her plans for his or her dissertation. The thesis and dissertation consultants will then provide clear feedback to the student as to what needs to be done in order to successfully complete the dissertation. In this initial consultation between the student and the thesis and dissertation consultant, the student should be clear with the thesis and dissertation consultants about what they want to achieve and when they want to achieve it. In other words, the student and the thesis and dissertation consultants should lay-out very clear expectations. It is important that both the student and the thesis and dissertation consultants are on the same page as the student and the thesis and dissertation consultants will be working closely throughout the project.

The student must also make sure that the thesis and dissertation consultants have the proper statistical know-how to help with the project. Because dissertations rely on statistics to prove points, it is important that the thesis and dissertation consultants that are obtained are expert statisticians. The student should make sure that the thesis and dissertation consultants are trained in statistics. Additionally, the thesis and dissertation consultants should be up-to-date in terms of their computer expertise. Because statistics uses statistical software like SPSS, the thesis and dissertation consultants must be well versed in computers. Finally, the thesis and dissertation consultants must be good communicators as there will be much communication between the student and the thesis and dissertation consultants throughout the project. There is no substitute for good communication, and the student will be able to tell immediately if the thesis and dissertation consultants possess good communication skills.

Once the help of thesis and dissertation consultants is obtained, there is no limit as to the help, assistance and feedback they can provide. In short, acquiring thesis and dissertation consultants can guarantee a student’s success as the thesis and dissertation consultants will see the project through to the successful conclusion. Additionally, thesis and dissertation consultants provide expert advice from the very beginning of the project. And because most thesis and dissertation consultants have themselves received their doctoral degrees and completed their dissertations, thesis and dissertation consultants know what to do when it comes to writing a dissertation. They are also very familiar with the stress that is involved with writing a dissertation, and for that reason they are extremely patient when it comes to helping students. Further, thesis and dissertation consultants know how important it is for students to understand all of the aspects of their dissertation, and for this reason, they spend much time explaining all of the steps required to obtain proper statistics, to interpret those statistics, and to apply them successfully to the dissertation.

Thesis and dissertation consultants provide unmatched results as thesis and dissertation consultants help students acquire their doctoral degrees.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Doctoral Dissertation Consultants

Doctoral dissertation consultants provide an invaluable service to anyone seeking his or her doctoral degree: they help any student with the completion of his or her dissertation. There are several things that students should know about doctoral dissertation consultants, and this document will detail the services that doctoral dissertation consultants provide.

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First, it is important to note that doctoral dissertation consultants do not do the actual work for the student. Doctoral dissertation consultants do not write the dissertation for the student and doctoral dissertation consultants are not paid to finish the dissertation while the student does nothing. In fact, quite the opposite is true as doctoral dissertation consultants instruct students. In other words, doctoral dissertation consultants provide the advice, counsel, feedback and instruction that students need to be able to complete the dissertation. Doctoral dissertation consultants, then, act much like a student’s advisor, only doctoral dissertation consultants use a more “hands-on” approach as doctoral dissertation consultants are there guiding the student every single step of the way. Thus, doctoral dissertation consultants help the student but do not do all of the work for the student.

Second, doctoral dissertation consultants can provide any help necessary to the student. Sometimes the student is struggling with last minute touches—like editing and making sure that the dissertation is in proper APA format. Here, doctoral dissertation consultants step in and edit and revise dissertations and make suggestions. Doctoral dissertation consultants also offer APA editing advice, feedback and guidance. For these students who are almost done with their dissertation, doctoral dissertation consultants ‘put it all together’ and ensure that the student’s dissertation is finished successfully and accurately.

While some students need very little help with the completion of their dissertation, other students need much more assistance. Doctoral dissertation consultants provides this help as doctoral dissertation consultants can help these students from the very beginning of the project—from choosing the right topic to phrasing that topic. These students who seek doctoral dissertation consultants from the very beginning will benefit from having doctoral dissertation consultants assist them every single step of the way.

And while both of these cases represent the two ends of the spectrum—students who seek doctoral dissertation consultants at the very end and students who seek doctoral dissertation consultants at the very beginning—other students seek doctoral dissertation consultants in the middle of their project. Because the road to completing the dissertation is a lengthy one, there are many ‘road blocks’ along the way where students get held up and bogged down. This is true for any large project, but it is especially true for students writing their dissertation. Doctoral dissertation consultants can help these students as they can provide important guidance to students who need to navigate through these ‘road blocks.’ Be it assisting students with the statistics portion of their dissertation, or checking the sample size and data-gathering methodology, doctoral dissertation consultants can step into any problem at any time and give valuable feedback, guidance, support and instruction. Oftentimes this makes the difference between a student finishing on-time and a student pushing back the deadline of completing his or her dissertation.

Doctoral dissertation consultants offer valuable assistance to any doctoral student working on his or her dissertation. Doctoral dissertation consultants can step into any project at any time and can provide extremely valuable information and guidance on that topic. Because they can ensure that students are working efficiently at finishing their dissertation, doctoral dissertation consultants can expedite the entire process of writing the dissertation. In other words, doctoral dissertation consultants will not let students waste time doing unnecessary or invalid work. In fact, there is no better way to ensure the successful completion of the dissertation than with the help of doctoral dissertation consultants.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Statistics Consultant

A statistics consultant is the most efficient and reliable way to get help with anything involving statistics. A statistics consultant can therefore be useful to anyone who needs help with statistics. This help comes in the form of statistical consultations provided by a statistics consultant.

For a free 30-minute consultation with a statistical consultant, click here.

So who, exactly, could use the help of a statistics consultant? The answer to that is simple: because so many fields and disciplines require the use of statistics, many people could use the help of a statistics consultant.

Once such example is anyone in the medical or nursing field. This is true because the medical and nursing fields rely heavily on the use of statistics. For example, in order to determine the efficacy of a drug, statistics must be applied and relied upon. As such, studies are performed on various individuals who take the drug to determine whether or not the drug works and at what dose the drug is most beneficial. And while doctors are competent professionals when it comes to the human body, they are not so skilled with the analysis of hundreds and thousands of numbers. This is where a statistics consultant steps in as the statistics consultant can make sense of such numbers and can determine what works best at what dosage. And because the medical field is such an important field (for it deals with human life!), it is imperative that the right numbers are gathered and that accurate statistics and inferences are drawn from these numbers. Again, a statistics consultant can guarantee accurate results because a statistics consultant is a trained professional when it comes to statistics.

Another important field where statistics can be extremely important is the business arena. A statistics consultant can provide valuable feedback to any business operation as a statistics consultant can analyze numbers that will maximize profit. All businesses rely on statistics—on what sells, what works, what doesn’t work, etc.—and a statistics consultant can do the time-consuming and difficult task of statistics for any business. This can be especially helpful for small businesses as small businesses do not usually have people trained in statistics. Instead, these small businesses must rely on “intuition.” This intuition tells the businessman that he/she is absolutely positive that a certain product or service will work in a certain area. Because this intuition is not based on hard facts and studied numbers, it can often prove to be disastrous to a business. Thus, a statistics consultant can perform real statistics for a small business.

In business, statistics can be used to perform market research as well. And this laborious task can be done by a statistics consultant. The statistics consultant in this case, knows exactly what needs to be performed to determine what will and won’t work in terms of services and products in a certain area. Many people seek to do this market research without the help of a statistics consultant, and this leads to improper results. One such reason is because oftentimes, people gather invalid data. Some of the reasons for this are as follows: 1) there is insufficient data collected to make valid conclusions, 2) the measurements are done with too few measurement variables, 3) there is too much variation in data or there is outlier in data, 4) the wrong selection of samples is used, 4) inaccurate measurement methods are taken for analysis. The statistics consultant can avoid all of these errors, however, as the statistics consultant is trained in the gathering of data and the interpretation of that data. Thus, the statistics consultant can perform market research for the business or organization and the business or organization can save valuable time and money with the help of a statistics consultant. And because there are few things that are more important to a business than knowing what will and won’t work, hiring a statistics consultant can prove to be one of the most invaluable decisions that a business can make.