Reliable and Valid Hierarchical Classification

SOME methods of hierarchical classification use only the highest index of association of every object with every other object; other methods use all indices of association (McQuitty, 1967, 1968; McQuitty and Clark, 1968). A problem is to use that particular set of indices of association which produces the most reliable and valid solution. This is what Reliable and Valid Hierarchical Classification attempts to accomplish.