The CHIC Analysis software v1.0

Abstract

In this paper we describe CHIC (Correspondence&HIerarchical Cluster) Analysis, a specialized software package for Correspondence Analysis-CA (Simple and Multiple) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (Benzécri's chi-square distance, Ward's linkage criterion). The implementation of CA is in line with both the French approach and the Gifi System of data analysis. CHIC Analysis combines the graphical interface features of CodeGear Delphi with the computational power of Mat Lab. The software was implemented as an attempt to contribute to the effectiveness and reliability of CA. For this purpose, it offers a variety of aids to the results' interpretation and tools for the construction of special data tables. A modified version of the CA algorithm is implemented in the multivariate case. Special emphasis has been put on the graphical options for biplots, maps and dendrograms. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.