This book explores the fundamentals of multidimensional scaling (MDS) and how this analytic
method can be used in applied setting for educational and psychological research. The book
tries to make MDS more accessible to a wider audience in terms of the language and examples
that are more relevant to educational and psychological research and less technical so that the
readers are not overwhelmed by equations. The goal is for readers to learn the methods
described in this book and immediately start using MDS via available software programs. The
book also examines new applications that have previously not been discussed in MDS literature.
It should be an ideal book for graduate students and researchers to better understand
MDS.Fundamentals of Applied Multidimensional Scaling for Educational and Psychological Research
is divided into three parts. Part I covers the basic and fundamental features of MDS models
pertaining to applied research applications. Chapters in this section cover the essential
features of data that are typically associated with MDS analysis such as preference ration or
binary choice data and also looking at metric and non-metric MDS models to build a foundation
for later discussion and applications in later chapters. Part II examines specific MDS models
and its applications for education and psychology. This includes spatial analysis methods that
can be used in MDS to test clustering effect of items and individual differences MDS model
(INDSCAL). Finally Part III focuses on new applications of MDS analysis in these research
fields. These new applications consist of profile analysis longitudinal analysis mean-level
change and pattern change. The book concludes with a historical review of MDS development as
an analytical method and a look to future directions.
