Gower's Similarity Coefficient
A measure used to calculate the similarity between two entities with mixed types of variables, often used in cluster analysis.
Implications
A statistical measure used to quantify the similarity between two entities, considering both numerical and categorical variables, often used in clustering, classification, and data analysis to identify patterns or groupings within complex data sets.
Example
Example: A data scientist uses Gower's Similarity Coefficient to cluster customer profiles based on a mix of demographic data (categorical) and purchase behavior (numerical), enabling more targeted marketing campaigns.
Related Terms
Different from Euclidean distance, which only works with numerical data, Gower's coefficient allows for the comparison of mixed data types, making it more versatile for real-world data analysis.