A new biplot procedure with joint classification of objects and variables by fuzzy c-means clustering

Abstract

Biplot is a technique for obtaining a low-dimensional configuration of the data matrix in which both the objects and the variables of the data matrix are jointly represented as points and vectors, respectively. However, biplots with a large number of objects and variables remain difficult to interpret. Therefore, in this research, we propose a new biplot procedure that allows us to interpret a large data matrix. In particular, the objects and variables are classified into a small number of clusters by using fuzzy $$c$$c-means clustering and the resulting clusters are simultaneously biplotted in lower-dimensional space. This procedure allows us to understand the configurations easily and to grasp the fuzzy memberships of the objects and variables to the clusters. A simulation study and real data example are also provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed procedure.