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The Use of Multivariate Distances for Non-Classificatory Purposes in Anthropobiology

In: Multivariate Statistical Methods in Physical Anthropology

Author

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  • Jean Hiernaux

    (Université de Paris, Equipe d’Ecologie Humaine)

Abstract

By reviewing some of the author’s work, this publication attempts to show how much multivariate distances may be useful tools for answering questions of a non-classificatory nature. It focuses on the potential usefulness of following a number of lines of logical analysis of distance matrices. It does not attempt to discuss how much information is lost or distorted when the most accurate statistics must be renounced, as has been the case for anthropometric distances in the author’s work: Mahalanobis’ D2 was used whenever all raw data were available, $$\text C_{\text{H}}^{2}$$ when only means and SD’s were available, and Δ2 was used whenever all raw data were available, and Δg (Hiernaux, 1965) when only means were available on all populations. The apparent fruitfulness of the analysis of even the rawest statistics seems to justify giving up more sophisticated ones when it permits the inclusion of key populations in the set, e.g., in a study of the populations of the African rainforest, the Mbuti Pygmies whose anthropometry is known by their arithmetic means only.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean Hiernaux, 1984. "The Use of Multivariate Distances for Non-Classificatory Purposes in Anthropobiology," Springer Books, in: G. N. Van Vark & W. W. Howells (ed.), Multivariate Statistical Methods in Physical Anthropology, pages 101-114, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-94-009-6357-3_9
    DOI: 10.1007/978-94-009-6357-3_9
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