Model based clustering for mixed data: clustMD

Damien McParland (University College Dublin)

Friday 3rd February, 2017 15:00-16:00 Maths 203

Abstract

A model based clustering procedure for data of mixed type, clustMD, is developed using a latent variable model.  It is proposed that a latent variable, following a mixture of Gaussian distributions, generates the observed data of mixed type. The observed data may be any combination of continuous, binary, ordinal or nominal variables.

clustMD employs a parsimonious covariance structure for the latent variables, leading to a suite of six clustering models that vary in complexity and provide an elegant and unified approach to clustering mixed data

An expectation maximisation (EM) algorithm is used to estimate clustMD; in the presence of nominal data a Monte Carlo EM algorithm is required. The clustMD model is illustrated by clustering simulated mixed type data and prostate cancer patients, on whom mixed data have been recorded. Time depending, some more recent developments for this model will be detailed.

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