Cluster Analysis

Unlike classification and regression, which analyze class-labeled (training) data sets, clustering analyzes data objects without consulting class labels. In many cases, class- labeled data may simply not exist at the beginning. Clustering can be used to generate class labels for a group of data. The objects are clustered or grouped based on the principle of maximizing the intraclass similarity and minimizing the interclass similarity. That is, clusters of objects are formed so that objects within a cluster have high similarity in comparison to one another, but are rather dissimilar to objects in other clusters. Each cluster so formed can be viewed as a class of objects, from which rules can be derived. Clustering can also facilitate taxonomy formation, that is, the organization of observations into a hierarchy of classes that group similar events together.

Cluster analysis

Cluster analysis can be performed on AllElectronics customer data to identify homogeneous subpopulations of customers. These clusters may represent individual target groups for marketing. Figure 1.10 shows a 2-D plot of customers with respect to customer locations in a city. Three clusters of data points are evident.

Figure 1.10. A 2-D plot of customer data with respect to customer locations in a city, showing three data clusters.