Distance Metric

Use the drop-down menu to select the method used for computing differences between the observations. The DGOWER method is selected by default.

Available methods for computing distances are described in the table below:

Method

Description

CITYBLOCK

Calculates the Manhattan distance between pairs.

Select this method for interval, ratio, or ordinal variables.

DCORR

Calculates the correlation transformed to the Euclidean Distance between pairs.

Select this method for interval, ratio, or ordinal variables.

DGOWER

Select this method for interval, ratio, or ordinal variables.

DSQCORR

Calculates the value equivalent to 1 minus the squared correlation between pairs.

Select this method for interval, ratio, or ordinal variables.

EUCLID

Calculates the Euclidean distance between pairs.

Select this method for interval, ratio, or ordinal variables.

L(1)

Calculates the Minkowski distance between pairs.

Select this method for interval, ratio, or ordinal variables.

SHAPE

Calculates the shape distance between pairs.

Select this method for interval, ratio, or ordinal variables.

SIZE

Calculates the size distance between pairs.

Select this method for interval, ratio, or ordinal variables.

SQEUCLID

Calculates the squared Euclidean distance between pairs.

Select this method for interval, ratio, or ordinal variables.

CANBERRA

Calculates the Canberra metric distance coefficient between pairs.

Select this method only when variables are either ratios, or positive and continuous.

CHI

Calculates the squared root of the chi-squared coefficient between pairs.

Select this method only when variables are either ratios, or positive and continuous.

CHISQ

Calculates the chi-squared coefficient between pairs.

Select this method only when variables are either ratios, or positive and continuous.

DISRATIO

Calculates the value equivalent to 1 minus the similarity ratio between pairs.

Select this method only when variables are either ratios, or positive and continuous.

DOVERLAP

Calculates the overlap dissimilarity between pairs.

Select this method only when variables are either ratios, or positive and continuous.

NONMETRIC

Calculates the Lance and Williams nonmetric coefficient between pairs.

Select this method only when variables are either ratios, or positive and continuous.

PHI

Calculates the squared root of the phi-squared coefficient between pairs.

Select this method only when variables are either ratios, or positive and continuous.

PHISQ

Calculates the phi-squared coefficient between pairs.

Select this method only when variables are either ratios, or positive and continuous.

BLWNM

Calculates the Binary Lance and Williams nonmetric, or Bray-Curtis coefficient between pairs.

Select this method only when variables are nominal.

DJACCARD

Calculates the Jaccard dissimilarity coefficient between pairs.

Select this method only when variables are nominal.

DMATCH

Calculates the simple matching coefficient transformed to Euclidean distance between pairs.

Select this method only when variables are nominal.

DSQMATCH

Calculates the simple matching coefficient transformed to squared Euclidean distance between pairs.

Select this method only when variables are nominal.

HAMMING

Calculates the Hamming distance between pairs.

Select this method only when variables are nominal.

To Specify This Option:

8      Select the desired level of measurement using the drop-down menu.

For Additional Information

Refer to the SAS PROC DISTANCE documentation for more information.