Factor analysis and Cluster analysis

Factor Analysis Factor analysis attempts to identify underlying variables, or factors, that explain the pattern of correlations within a set of observed variables. Factor analysis is often used in data reduction to identify a small number of factors that explain most of the variance observed in a much larger number of manifest variables. Factor analysis can also be used to generate hypotheses regarding causal mechanisms or to screen variables for subsequent analysis (for example, to …

…Plots: dendrograms and icicle plots. Assumptions. The distance or similarity measures used should be appropriate for the data analyzed (see the Proximities procedure for more information on choices of distance and similarity measures). Also, you should include all relevant variables in your analysis. Omission of influential variables can result in a misleading solution. Because hierarchical cluster analysis is an exploratory method, results should be treated as tentative until they are confirmed with an independent sample.