Applying Cluster Analysis in Counseling Psychology Research

As a research technique that has grown rapidly in applications in many scientific disciplines, cluster analysis has potential for wider use in counseling psychology research. We begin with a simple example illustrating the clustering approach. Topics covered include the variety of approaches in clus...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of counseling psychology 1987-10, Vol.34 (4), p.456-468
Main Authors: Borgen, Fred H, Barnett, David C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cluster Analysis
Counseling
Counseling Psychology
Experimentation
Human
Psychology
Social research
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:As a research technique that has grown rapidly in applications in many scientific disciplines, cluster analysis has potential for wider use in counseling psychology research. We begin with a simple example illustrating the clustering approach. Topics covered include the variety of approaches in clustering, the times when cluster analysis may be a choice for analysis, the steps in cluster analysis, the data features, such as level, shape, and scatter, that affect cluster results, alternate clustering methods and evidence indicating which are most effective, and examples of clustering applications in counseling research. Although we make an attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of major issues, the reader is encouraged to consult several good recent publications on the topic that are especially relevant for psychologists.
ISSN:0022-0167
1939-2168
DOI:10.1037/0022-0167.34.4.456