The analysis of two-step clusters with SPSS

Abstract

The method of cluster analysis in two phases, also called two-step, is an exploratory tool designed to reveal natural groupings of a data set, allowing the generation of information criteria, cluster frequencies, and descriptive statistics by cluster as well as bar and sector charts, and graphs of relevance for the variables. The method of two-step cluster analysis phases has unique features over other methods of traditional clustering, such as: an automatic procedure for calculating the optimal number of clusters, the ability to create models of clusters with both categorical and continuous variables, or the possibility of working with large data files.