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Scalling data before cluster analysis

Hello everybody,

I have experimental data of patient cohort of 20 samples. For each patient I have a set of paramters. This paarameters are of different scalling, some of ELIZA dat measured with rang of 0-6000 pg/ml while other like T cell percentage range 0-100. I would like to run a cluster alysis for my chohort to sub group my sample due to different diseas stages for exmple. My question is that, do I need to re scalle the data before running such clustering  with JMP. because as fa as I see that people are re scalleing their data (with Z score for example) before they cluster with python or R.. etc. If I need to rescalle the data, what would be better approach for that. 

Thanks in advance for helpeing.

Re: Scalling data before cluster analysis

K Means Clustering provides scaling and this option is enabled by default when you launch the platform.

Re: Scalling data before cluster analysis

Dear Mark,

Thanks for the fast reply. Yes, me and my suprvisor consider hierarchical clustering without pre assumption for number of clusters. But what about if we consider to cluster using K mean (of courcewith pre assumption for cluster number)? Do we also need no scalling?

Regards

Ahmed 

Re: Scalling data before cluster analysis

I assume that you intend to use hierarchical clustering (unsupervised) to determine the number and identify of the clusters. Centering or scaling is not required for this method. Other multivariate methods benefit from centering and scaling.