Goodness-of-Fit Assessment in Multidimensional Scaling and Unfolding. (1st November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mair, Patrick; Borg, Ingwer; Rusch, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Multivariate behavioral research. Volume 51:Number 6(2016)
• Page Start: 772
• Page End: 789
• Publication Date: 2016-11-01
• Subjects: Multidimensional scaling -- unfolding -- goodness-of-fit -- permutation tests; Psychometrics -- Periodicals; Psychology, Experimental -- Periodicals; Psychology, Experimental; Psychometrics; Periodicals; 150.15195
• DOI: 10.1080/00273171.2016.1235966
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0027-3171

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Judging goodness of fit in multidimensional scaling requires a comprehensive set of diagnostic tools instead of relying on stress rules of thumb. This article elaborates on corresponding strategies and gives practical guidelines for researchers to obtain a clear picture of the goodness of fit of a solution. Special emphasis will be placed on the use of permutation tests. The second part of the article focuses on goodness-of-fit assessment of an important variant of multidimensional scaling called unfolding, which can be applied to a broad range of psychological data settings. Two real-life data sets are presented in order to walk the reader through the entire set of diagnostic measures, tests, and plots. R code is provided as supplementary information that makes the whole goodness-of-fit assessment workflow, as presented in this article, fully reproducible.