Post Hoc Discriminant Analysis

A discriminant function analysis is used to determine which variables discriminate between two or more naturally occurring groups or to "differentiate groups based on quantitative variables" (Mayers, Gamst, & Guarino, 2016). Discriminant Analysis can be used to determine what variables might be used to predict the category that a person might belong to.

For example, if a number of observations were recorded about students (e.g., SAT scores, gender, SES, single-parent household) then a research might be able to use a discriminant function analysis to determine whether or not students will fall into one of the following categories: Attends a 4 year college after high school, attends a 2 year college after high school, or does not attend college after high school. The discernment analysis might be used to determine which of the variables are the BEST predictors of a student falling into one of those three groups.

Contributed by: Thomas Fox