Hierarchical Clustering

Hierarchical clustering techniques is subdivided into agglomerative methods, which proceeds by a series of successive fusions of the n individuals into groups, and divisive methods, which separate the n individuals successively into finer groupings. Hierarchical classifications produced by either the agglomerative or divisive route may be represented by a two-dimensional diagram known as a dendrogram, which illustrates the fusions or divisions made at each stage of the analysis. This chapter describes the agglomerative techniques, and their properties. These properties are potentially applicable to divisive techniques also, but they are in relation to agglomerative techniques. A description of some divisive techniques is followed by a discussion of issues common to both agglomerative and divisive techniques. It discusses several applications of hierarchical clustering techniques. Controlled Vocabulary Terms cluster analysis; dendrogram; divisive hierarchical clustering; hierarchical agglomerative clustering; hierarchical clustering