Cluster Analysis Applied to the Validation of Course Objectives

1976 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Kettenring ◽  
W. H. Rogers ◽  
M. E. Smith ◽  
J. L. Warner
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Training Needs ◽  
Training Curriculum ◽  
Basic Training ◽  
Industrial Training ◽  
Course Objectives

This paper describes the use of cluster analysis to aid in empirically validating the course objectives of an industrial training curriculum. For instance, clusters of basic training needs were found and compared against existing course contents. Two major findings emerged from the data analysis: the discovery of an important job activity missing from the curriculum and the identification of sizeable groups of workers with distinctly different training needs. Considerable attention is also devoted to the statistical aspects of clustering which were important in obtaining these results.

scholarly journals Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Data Analysis for Quantitative Comparison of Microbial Communities

2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 926-932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher B. Blackwood ◽  
Terry Marsh ◽  
Sang-Hoon Kim ◽  
Eldor A. Paul
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism ◽  
Restriction Fragment ◽  
Length Polymorphism ◽  
Redundancy Analysis ◽  
Fragment Length Polymorphism ◽  
Peak Height ◽  
Relative Peak Height ◽  
Restriction Fragment Length

ABSTRACT Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) is a culture-independent method of obtaining a genetic fingerprint of the composition of a microbial community. Comparisons of the utility of different methods of (i) including peaks, (ii) computing the difference (or distance) between profiles, and (iii) performing statistical analysis were made by using replicated profiles of eubacterial communities. These samples included soil collected from three regions of the United States, soil fractions derived from three agronomic field treatments, soil samples taken from within one meter of each other in an alfalfa field, and replicate laboratory bioreactors. Cluster analysis by Ward's method and by the unweighted-pair group method using arithmetic averages (UPGMA) were compared. Ward's method was more effective at differentiating major groups within sets of profiles; UPGMA had a slightly reduced error rate in clustering of replicate profiles and was more sensitive to outliers. Most replicate profiles were clustered together when relative peak height or Hellinger-transformed peak height was used, in contrast to raw peak height. Redundancy analysis was more effective than cluster analysis at detecting differences between similar samples. Redundancy analysis using Hellinger distance was more sensitive than that using Euclidean distance between relative peak height profiles. Analysis of Jaccard distance between profiles, which considers only the presence or absence of a terminal restriction fragment, was the most sensitive in redundancy analysis, and was equally sensitive in cluster analysis, if all profiles had cumulative peak heights greater than 10,000 fluorescence units. It is concluded that T-RFLP is a sensitive method of differentiating between microbial communities when the optimal statistical method is used for the situation at hand. It is recommended that hypothesis testing be performed by redundancy analysis of Hellinger-transformed data and that exploratory data analysis be performed by cluster analysis using Ward's method to find natural groups or by UPGMA to identify potential outliers. Analyses can also be based on Jaccard distance if all profiles have cumulative peak heights greater than 10,000 fluorescence units.

scholarly journals A Cluster Analysis of Peer Support Training Needs for Foster Parents

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Brown ◽  
Aamena Kapasi ◽  
Vanessa Eyre ◽  
Samantha Weindels
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Foster Parents ◽  
Training Needs

scholarly journals Using Clustering as a Tool: Mixed Methods in Qualitative Data Analysis

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Macia
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Similarity Measures ◽  
Cluster Solution ◽  
Clustering Methods ◽  
Qualitative Data Analysis ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Detailed Explanation

In this article I discuss cluster analysis as an exploratory tool to support the identification of associations within qualitative data. While not appropriate for all qualitative projects, cluster analysis can be particularly helpful in identifying patterns where numerous cases are studied. I use as illustration a research project on Latino grievances to offer a detailed explanation of the main steps in cluster analysis, providing specific considerations for its use with qualitative data. I specifically describe the issues of data transformation, the choice of clustering methods and similarity measures, the identification of a cluster solution, and the interpretation of the data in a qualitative context.

scholarly journals SUCCESSFUL AGEING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF YOUNG ADULTS IN POLAND

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 421
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Kozerska
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Sense Of Community ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Family Relations ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Review Literature ◽  
Successful Ageing ◽  
The Third

On the basis of the theoretical and empirical analyses published in the scientific literature, it can be stated that the concept of successful ageing presented in educational discourses is understood differently by authors and it is focused primarily on three issues related to 1/ spirituality, 2/ well-being, 3/ a sense of community. The article discusses research results aimed at comparing ways of understanding successful ageing in the scientific literature with ways of defining this term by young adults in Poland. The survey participants are pedagogy students. The article attempts to answer the following questions: 1/ How do young adults in Poland understand the concept of successful ageing?, 2/ To what extent do the ways of understanding this concept, which have been distinguished based on the analysis of empirical data, coincide with a typology created based on a review literature. Data analysis (cluster analysis) enables to distinguish two types of successful ageing understood as a link between transcendence and generativity. The third type consists of elements of Rowe and Kahn model which are supplemented with good family relations.

scholarly journals Characteristics of multi-annual variation of precipitation in areas particularly exposed to extreme phenomena. Part 1. The upper Vistula river basin

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 00121
Author(s):  
Bernard Twaróg
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Initial Section ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Vistula River

The study contains an analysis of precipitation, covering multiple profiles and based on the GPCC database that provides monthly mean values for the territory upper Vistula catchment. The analysis includes data for the period 1901-2010 with a spatial resolution of 0.5° × 0.5° of geographic longitude and latitude. The initial section of the analysis contains an assessment of GPCC data accuracy for the territory of Poland and the period 1961-1990. The following sections include a data analysis in monthly profiles and hydrological cycle profiles, taking into account hydrological summer and hydrological winter. A cluster analysis is also included, with drought and flood periods indicated. The periodical nature of precipitation is assessed and the trends in climate changes calculated.

A statistical view to study the aphorisms in Nahj al-Balaghah

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 881-885
Author(s):  
Yu Tian ◽  
Kim-Hung Pho
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Book Covers

Abstract Besides the Holly Quran, Nahj al-Balagha is the main source of literature in Arabian nations, especially for Shia as one of the main branches of the Muslims. Along with literary brilliance, the text of this book covers the broad topics. This research deals with the application of the statistical text and data analysis to extract knowledge from the aphorisms in Nahj al-Balaghah. First, we classify these aphorisms in seven topics. Then, the count of the aphorisms in each category is computed. Finally, the counts of the aphorisms of the categories are compared using the chi-square test and the cluster analysis.

scholarly journals Competencies of Engineering Graduates: What are the Employer’s Expectations?

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2.29) ◽  
pp. 519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aini Najwa Azmi ◽  
Yusri Kamin ◽  
Muhammad Khair Noordin
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Technical Skills ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Secondary Data Analysis ◽  
Training Period ◽  
Industrial Training ◽  
The World ◽  
Industry Experience

Recently, universities keep receiving complaints from the industries regarding the capability of engineering graduates when starting their new job. The complaints were always about the inability of the engineering graduates to adapt in the industry. This is due to minimum exposure of industrial training period given by university to them. As a result, most of fresh engineering graduates do not have enough industry experience that is demanded by industry. Worse case, there is mismatching skill during industrial training which not relevance to what they are studied before. This problem contributes to unemployment issue among engineering fresh graduates. The purpose of this paper is to review and analyse about the engineering competencies from all over the world. The paper is written on extensive secondary data analysis. It is revealed that the criteria needed by employers from most developed countries are almost similar. Based on summary, technical and non-technical skills are both important to become a competent engineer. There are some recommendations to develop and improve both technical and non-technical skills that can be emphasized by authorities of higher education especially in Malaysia.  

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