Asymmetric multidimensional scaling of two-mode three-way proximities

Abstract

An asymmetric multidimensional scaling model and an associated nonmetric algorithm to analyze two-mode three-way proximities (object × object × source) are introduced. The model consists of a common object configuration and two kinds of weights, i.e., for both symmetry and asymmetry. In the common object configuration, each object is represented by a point and a circle (sphere, hypersphere) in a Euclidean space. The common object configuration represents pairwise proximity relationships between pairs of objects for the ‘group’ of all sources. Each source has its own symmetry weight and a set of asymmetry weights. Symmetry weights represent individual differences among sources of data in symmetric proximity relationships, and asymmetry weights represent individual differences among sources in asymmetric proximity relationships. The associated nonmetric algorithm, based on Kruskal’s (1964b) nonmetric multidimensional scaling algorithm, is an extension of the algorithm for the asymmetric multidimensional scaling of one mode two-way proximities developed earlier (Okada and Imaizumi 1987). As an illustrative example, we analyze intergenerational occupational mobility from 1955 to 1985 in Japan among eight occupational categories.