Using Interactive Graphics to Teach Multivariate Data Analysis to Psychology Students

Abstract

This paper discusses the use of interactive graphics to teach multivariate data analysis to Psychology students. Three techniques are explored through separate activities: parallel coordinates/boxplots; principal components/exploratory factor analysis; and cluster analysis. With interactive graphics, students may perform important parts of the analysis “by hand,” using techniques such as pointing at, selecting and changing the colors of the points/observations. Our experience demonstrates that this approach is very useful when teaching an intermediate/advanced course on multivariate data analysis to students of Psychology, who tend to have low to moderate proficiency in Mathematics.

• Interactive graphics
• Multivariate data
• Parallel boxplots
• Principal components
• Cluster analysis