If a researcher wishes to discover natural groups of cases, then he or she should use:
A) factor analysis.
B) cluster analysis.
C) conjoint analysis.
D) discriminant analysis.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cluster analysis is the best choice when a researcher wants to discover natural groups of cases. This statistical technique helps in identifying groups of cases that are relatively homogenous within the group, and heterogenous between groups. It is commonly used in market research, social sciences, and other fields where understanding how cases group together is important. Factor analysis is more suited to identifying latent variables that underlie observed variables, conjoint analysis is used to measure the importance and trade-offs among different attributes, and discriminant analysis is used to classify cases into predefined groups based on a set of predictor variables.

If a Researcher Wishes to Discover Natural Groups of Cases