Mixtures of distance-based models for ranking data

Ranking data arises when judges are asked to rank some or all of a group of objects. Examples of ranking data arise in many areas, including the Irish electoral system and the Irish college admission system. Mixture models can be used to study heterogeneous populations. The study of these populations is achieved by thinking of the population as being composed of a finite number of homogeneous sub-populations. Mixtures of distance-based models are used to analyze ranking data from heterogeneous populations. Results from simulations are included, as well as an application to the well-known American Psychological Association election data set.