An Example of Attribute Based MDS Using

Discriminant Analysis

Problem : A chocolate company

wants to draw a perceptual map
using an attribute based
procedure, of its consumers
perceptions regarding its own
brand and two competing brands.
Assume that it is Nestle against
Cadburys and Amul, for example.

DATA
Data was collected from 15
respondents (5 of each brand), on
five attributes, namely Price,
Quality, Availability, Packaging and
Taste. The variables are measured
using different scales, but a higher
value indicates a favourable rating
in each variables measurement.

Input Data (High = Better)

Means Output by Brand

Group Statistics

BRAND
1

Total

PRICE
QUALITY
PACKAG
TASTE
AVALBLTY
PRICE
QUALITY
PACKAG
TASTE
AVALBLTY
PRICE
QUALITY
PACKAG
TASTE
AVALBLTY
PRICE
QUALITY
PACKAG
TASTE
AVALBLTY

Mean
11.6000
30.0000
4.2000
14.4000
352.2000
12.2000
16.6000
2.8000
11.6000
114.0000
11.4000
21.8000
3.4000
8.6000
80.0000
11.7333
22.8000
3.4667
11.5333
182.0667

Std. Deviation
1.14018
6.89202
.83666
2.30217
114.76149
1.92354
3.78153
.83666
2.07364
108.41125
1.14018
4.49444
1.34164
2.40832
14.33527
1.38701
7.48522
1.12546
3.22638
151.30266

Valid N (listwise)
Unweighted
Weighted
5
5.000
5
5.000
5
5.000
5
5.000
5
5.000
5
5.000
5
5.000
5
5.000
5
5.000
5
5.000
5
5.000
5
5.000
5
5.000
5
5.000
5
5.000
15
15.000
15
15.000
15
15.000
15
15.000
15
15.000

Univariate F tests
Tests of Equality of Group Means

PRICE
QUALITY
PACKAG
TASTE
AVALBLTY

Wilks'
Lambda
.936
.418
.722
.423
.314

F
.413
8.349
2.313
8.195
13.131

df1

df2
2
2
2
2
2

12
12
12
12
12

Sig.
.671
.005
.141
.006
.001

Discrim Functions
Eigenvalues
Function
1
2

Eigenvalue % of Variance
4.749a
81.4
1.083a
18.6

Cumulative %
81.4
100.0

Canonical
Correlation
.909
.721

a. First 2 canonical discriminant functions were used in the

analysis.

Significance Test

Wilks' Lambda
Test of Function(s)
1 through 2
2

Wilks'
Lambda
.084
.480

Chi-square
24.827
7.336

df
10
4

Sig.
.006
.119

Standardised Coeffs.
Standardized Canonical Discriminant Function Coefficients
Function
PRICE
QUALITY
PACKAG
TASTE
AVALBLTY

.207
.988
-.398
-.136
.999

.701
-.454
-.293
.986
-.122

Var. Loadings on Functions

Structure Matrix
Function
1
AVALBLTY
QUALITY
PACKAG
TASTE
PRICE

.664*
.517*
.268*
.431
-.044

2
.294
-.336
-.203
.668*
.235*

Pooled within-groups correlations between discriminating

variables and standardized canonical discriminant functions
Variables ordered by absolute size of correlation within function.
*. Largest absolute correlation between each variable and
any discriminant function

Centroids of Brands on Functions

Functions at Group Centroids
Function
BRAND
1
2
3

1
2.745
-1.596
-1.149

2
.123
1.073
-1.196

Unstandardized canonical discriminant

functions evaluated at group means

Plot of Brands on 2 Dimensions

Canonical Discriminant Functions
2
2
1
1
0

F u n c tio n 2

-1

BRAND

Group Centroids
3

-2

2
-3

1
-4

-2

Function 1

Putting Variables/Attribute Vectors on the

Above Map
Vectors which represent the original attributes
can be located on the above map. If there are
more than 3 brands, we may get more than 2
dimensions, and may have to draw more than
one plot of the above type.
To plot the attributes on the map above, we can
use the standardized coefficients of the original
variables in the discriminant function. For
example, for Taste, the standardized coefficients
are -.136 and .986 on Dimensions 1 and 2
respectively. So we can locate this point (-.136, .
986) on the map, and draw an arrow from the
origin to that point.

This will be labeled the Taste vector, and

similarly, all other vectors can be located,
one for each of the five attributes - Price,
Quality, Availability, Packaging and Taste.
The length of the arrow represents its
effect in discriminating on each dimension.
Longer arrows pointing more closely
towards a given group centroid represent
variables most strongly associated with the
group (or Brand, in this case). Vectors
pointing in the opposite direction from a
given group centroid represent lower
association with a group.

 Variables with longer vectors in a given

dimension, and those closest to a given
axis (dimension represented by the
discriminant function) are contributing
more to the interpretation of that
dimension. Looking at all variables that
contribute to a given axis (dimension), we
can label the dimension as a combination
of those variables.
In this case, the interpretation in terms of
the variables and their correlation to
dimensions 1 and 2 can be found from the
graph which follows (on next page).

As seen from the graph, Nestle, Cadbury

and Amul, the three brands have their
unique positions on the map. In addition,
on the same map, we now have plotted
values of the attributes on the same 2
dimensions (each discriminant function
represents a dimension). As we can see,
Dimension 1 seems to be a combination
of Availability (closest to the x-axis) and
Quality. This is also evident from the
standardized discriminant coefficients for
Availability (.999) and Quality (.988) on
Dimension 1, from the earlier output table.

 Dimension 2 seems to comprise of Taste and

Price, the two vectors (arrows) that are closest
to the vertical axis. This is also evident from the
standardized coefficients, of .986 and .701
respectively, for Taste and Price on Dimension 2,
from the earlier output table.
Packaging is not useful in defining any of the two
dimensions, as its arrow is not close to either of
the two dimensions.
Brands and their Association with
Attributes/Dimensions
Nestle seems to be stronger on Dimension 1
(Availability and Quality), and Cadbury on
Dimension 2 (Taste and to a lesser extent,
Price). Amul scores low on both dimensions
compared to its competitors.