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Discriminate analysis with nominal variables

tuo88138
Level II

Hi, I have nominal variables and I want to do a discriminate analysis. when I run the algorithm it gave me the below error. However, I pressed the continue and I got an answer. Since I got the below error, Can it be considered a correct answer? 

 

tuo88138_0-1671036322229.png

 

2 REPLIES 2


Re: Discriminate analysis with nominal variables

The short answer: I don't think you want to trust those results. Only continuous variables should be used as Y variables in discriminant analysis.

 

The longer answer: Discriminant analysis requires continuous Ys and a categorical X. In JMP, data table columns have both a data type and a modeling type (see here for the difference), and it looks like you have some columns with a numeric data type but a nominal or ordinal modeling type, meaning that while they're represented by numbers in the data table, they're really not continuous variables. Sex could be a good example: It may be represented as 0 and 1 in the table but really is nominal (male = 0 and female = 1). The discriminant analysis launch dialog will allow you to input Sex as a Y variable due to the numeric data type but thankfully throws up this warning if Sex is set to a non-continuous modeling type. (If you were to change Sex's data type to character, then the launch dialog would reject it outright when you try to put it in the Y role.) Including a non-continuous numeric column as a Y in discriminant analysis should be done only when you believe the variable can be treated as a continuous variable for the purposes of this specific analysis.

Ross Metusalem
JMP Academic Ambassador
tuo88138
Level II


Re: Discriminate analysis with nominal variables

Thank you so much