Abstract:

The purpose for which discriminant analysis was developed, and for which it tends to be used in practice, is to obtain a function discriminating between individuals belonging to two or more populations, which can then be used to allocate further individuals to one or other of these populations when it is not known to which population these new individuals do, in fact, belong. The purpose of the discriminant analysis reported by Mr. Squirrell clearly differs from this, and further explanation of its purpose is asked for. In particular there seems to be the danger that an attempt might be made to "interpret” the coefficients or weights of the discriminant function, despite the difficulties of doing so already referred to by Dr, Meer and pre-echoed in the paper itself.