Multiblock method for categorical variables. Application to the study of antibiotic resistance

Abstract

We address the problem of describing several categorical variables with a prediction purpose. We focus on methods in the multiblock modelling framework, each block being formed of the indicator matrix associated with each qualitative variable.We propose a method, called categorical multiblock Redundancy Analysis, based on a well-identified global optimization criterion which leads to an eigensolution. In comparison with usual procedures, such as logistic regression, the method is well- Adapted to the case of a large number of redundant explanatory variables. Practical uses of the proposed method are illustrated using an empirical example in the field of epidemiology. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010.