Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-b6zl4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-07T19:07:29.284Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A Geometrical Analysis of the Unfolding Model: General Solutions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

John Davidson*
Affiliation:
The University of Tasmania

Abstract

Given the complete set R of rank orders obtained from any configuration of n stimulus points in r dimensions in accordance with the unfolding model, a configuration from which just these orders may be derived will be described as a solution for R. The space is assumed to be Euclidean. Necessary and sufficient conditions are derived for a configuration to be a solution for R. The geometrical constraints which are necessary and sufficient to determine the subset of pairs of orders and opposites contained in R are also identified and constitute the constraint system for the ordinal vector model. The relationship between the two models is discussed.

Type
Original Paper
Copyright
Copyright © 1973 The Psychometric Society

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bennett, J. F. Determination of the number of independent parameters of a score matrix from the examination of rank orders. Psychometrika, 1956, 21, 383393CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bennett, J. F. and Hays, W. L. Multidimensional unfolding: Determining the dimensionality of ranked preference data. Psychometrika, 1960, 25, 2743CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carroll, J. D. Individual Differences and Multidimensional Scaling. In Shepard, R. N., Romney, A. K., and Nerlove, S. (Eds.), Multidimensional Scaling: Theory and applications in the behavioral sciences. Vol. I: Theory, 1972, New York: Seminar PressGoogle Scholar
Coombs, C. H. and Kao, R. C. On a connection between factor analysis and multidimensional unfolding. Psychometrika, 1960, 25, 219231CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davidson, J. A. A geometrical analysis of the unfolding model: nondegenerate solutions. Psychometrika, 1972, 37, 193216CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hays, W. L. and Bennett, J. F. Multidimensional unfolding: Determining configuration from complete rank order preference data. Psychometrika, 1961, 26, 221238CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McElwain, D. W. and Keats, J. A. Multidimensional unfolding: some geometrical solutions. Psychometrika, 1961, 26, 325332CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ross, J. and Cliff, N. A generalization of the interpoint distance model. Psychometrika, 1964, 29, 167176CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Suppes, P. and Zinnes, J. L. Basic measurement theory. In Luce, R. D., Bush, R. R., and Galanter, E. (Eds.), Handbook of Mathematical psychology. New York: Wiley. 1963, 176Google Scholar
Thurstone, L. L. Multiple-factor analysis, 1947, Chicago: University of Chicago PressGoogle Scholar
Tucker, L. R. Intra-individual and inter-individual multidimensionality. In Gulliksen, H., Messick, S. (Eds.), Psychological scaling: Theory and applications. New York: Wiley. 1960, 155167Google Scholar