Behaviormetrics: Quantitative Approaches to Human Behavior – serie

The purpose of this book is to thoroughly prepare the reader for applied research in clustering. Cluster analysis comprises a class of statistical techniques for classifying multivariate data into groups or clusters based on their similar features. Clustering is nowadays widely used in several domains of research, such as social sciences, psychology, and marketing, highlighting its multidisciplinary nature. This book provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to clustering and offers practical guidelines for applying clustering tools by carefully chosen real-life datasets and extensive data analyses. The procedures addressed in this book include traditional hard clustering methods and up-to-date developments in soft clustering. Attention is paid to practical examples and applications through the open source statistical software R. Commented R code and output for conducting, step by step, complete cluster analyses are available. The book is intended for researchers interested in applying clustering methods. Basic notions on theoretical issues and on R are provided so that professionals as well as novices with little or no background in the subject will benefit from the book.

This book presents the mutual information (MI) estimation methods recently proposed by the author and published in a number of major journals. It includes two types of applications: learning a forest structure from data for multivariate variables and identifying independent variables (independent component analysis). MI between a pair of random variables is mathematically defined in information theory. It measures how dependent the two variables are, takes nonnegative values, and is zero if, and only if, they are independent, and is often necessary to know the value of MI between two variables in machine learning, statistical data analysis, and various sciences, including physics, psychology, and economics. However, the real value of MI is not available and it can only be estimated from data. The essential difference between this and other estimations is that consistency and independence testing are proved for the estimations proposed by the author, where the authors state that an estimation satisfies consistency and independence testing when the estimation corresponds to the true value and when the MI estimation value is zero with probability one as the sample size grows, respectively. Thus far, no MI estimations satisfy both these properties at once.

This book reconsiders statistical methods from the point of view of entropy, and introduces entropy-based approaches for data analysis. Further, it interprets basic statistical methods, such as the chi-square statistic, t-statistic, F-statistic and the maximum likelihood estimation in the context of entropy. In terms of categorical data analysis, the book discusses the entropy correlation coefficient (ECC) and the entropy coefficient of determination (ECD) for measuring association and/or predictive powers in association models, and generalized linear models (GLMs). Through association and GLM frameworks, it also describes ECC and ECD in correlation and regression analyses for continuous random variables. In multivariate statistical analysis, canonical correlation analysis, T2-statistic, and discriminant analysis are discussed in terms of entropy. Moreover, the book explores the efficiency of test procedures in statistical tests of hypothesesusing entropy. Lastly, it presents an entropy-based path analysis for structural GLMs, which is applied in factor analysis and latent structure models. Entropy is an important concept for dealing with the uncertainty of systems of random variables and can be applied in statistical methodologies. This book motivates readers, especially young researchers, to address the challenge of new approaches to statistical data analysis and behavior-metric studies.

This book reconsiders statistical methods from the point of view of entropy, and introduces entropy-based approaches for data analysis. Further, it interprets basic statistical methods, such as the chi-square statistic, t-statistic, F-statistic and the maximum likelihood estimation in the context of entropy. In terms of categorical data analysis, the book discusses the entropy correlation coefficient (ECC) and the entropy coefficient of determination (ECD) for measuring association and/or predictive powers in association models, and generalized linear models (GLMs). Through association and GLM frameworks, it also describes ECC and ECD in correlation and regression analyses for continuous random variables. In multivariate statistical analysis, canonical correlation analysis, T2-statistic, and discriminant analysis are discussed in terms of entropy. Moreover, the book explores the efficiency of test procedures in statistical tests of hypothesesusing entropy. Lastly, it presents an entropy-based path analysis for structural GLMs, which is applied in factor analysis and latent structure models. Entropy is an important concept for dealing with the uncertainty of systems of random variables and can be applied in statistical methodologies. This book motivates readers, especially young researchers, to address the challenge of new approaches to statistical data analysis and behavior-metric studies.

This book focuses on the latest developments in behaviormetrics and data science, covering a wide range of topics in data analysis and related areas of data science, including analysis of complex data, analysis of qualitative data, methods for high-dimensional data, dimensionality reduction, visualization of such data, multivariate statistical methods, analysis of asymmetric relational data, and various applications to real data. In addition to theoretical and methodological results, it also shows how to apply the proposed methods to a variety of problems, for example in consumer behavior, decision making, marketing data, and social network structures.Moreover, it discuses methodological aspects and applications in a wide range of areas, such as behaviormetrics; behavioral science; psychology; and marketing, management and social sciences. Combining methodological advances with real-world applications collected from a variety of research fields, the book is a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners, as well as for applied statisticians and data analysts.

This book focuses on the latest developments in behaviormetrics and data science, covering a wide range of topics in data analysis and related areas of data science, including analysis of complex data, analysis of qualitative data, methods for high-dimensional data, dimensionality reduction, visualization of such data, multivariate statistical methods, analysis of asymmetric relational data, and various applications to real data. In addition to theoretical and methodological results, it also shows how to apply the proposed methods to a variety of problems, for example in consumer behavior, decision making, marketing data, and social network structures.Moreover, it discuses methodological aspects and applications in a wide range of areas, such as behaviormetrics; behavioral science; psychology; and marketing, management and social sciences. Combining methodological advances with real-world applications collected from a variety of research fields, the book is a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners, as well as for applied statisticians and data analysts.

This book first presents an overview of the history of a national character survey by the Institute of Statistical Mathematics that has been conducted for more than 65 years. The Japanese National Character Survey, launched in 1953, is a rare longitudinal survey in the world of survey research based on rigorous statistical sampling theory, motivating other countries to launch similar longitudinal surveys, including the General Social Survey (GSS), the Allgemeine Bevölkerungsumfrage der Sozialwissenschaften (ALLBUS, German General Social Survey (GGSS)), Eurobarometer, and others. Since the early 1970s, the Japanese survey has been extended as a cross-national survey for more advanced research of the Japanese national character in a comparative context. Second, the book explains the paradigm of cross-national studies called the Cultural Manifold Analysis (CULMAN), developed in the longitudinal and cross-national surveys, with practical examples of analysis. This explanation will helphelps a wide range of readers to better understand the cross-national comparative surveys of attitudes, opinion, and social values as basic information for evidence-based policymaking and research.

This book first presents an overview of the history of a national character survey by the Institute of Statistical Mathematics that has been conducted for more than 65 years. The Japanese National Character Survey, launched in 1953, is a rare longitudinal survey in the world of survey research based on rigorous statistical sampling theory, motivating other countries to launch similar longitudinal surveys, including the General Social Survey (GSS), the Allgemeine Bevölkerungsumfrage der Sozialwissenschaften (ALLBUS, German General Social Survey (GGSS)), Eurobarometer, and others. Since the early 1970s, the Japanese survey has been extended as a cross-national survey for more advanced research of the Japanese national character in a comparative context. Second, the book explains the paradigm of cross-national studies called the Cultural Manifold Analysis (CULMAN), developed in the longitudinal and cross-national surveys, with practical examples of analysis. This explanation will helphelps a wide range of readers to better understand the cross-national comparative surveys of attitudes, opinion, and social values as basic information for evidence-based policymaking and research.

This book focuses on a development for assessing mental changes using eye pupil reactions, namely extracting emotional change from the response to evaluate the viewer's interest in visual information.  The pupil of the eye reacts to both brightness and emotional state, including interest, enjoyment, and mental workload. Because pupillary change is a biological signal, various artifacts influence measurements of eye images. Technical procedures are required to extract mental activities from pupillary changes, and they are summarized here step by step, although some procedures contain earlier techniques such as analog video processing.  This study examines the possibility of estimating the viewer's interest and enjoyment of viewing movies by measuring the dynamic pupillary changes, blinking, and subjective interest responses. In evaluation of pupil size, there was a significant difference in pupil size between the higher and the lower shot for the degree of subject interest response in each kind of movies. The first part of the book shows a pupil reaction model for brightness changes to extract mental activities. Pupil reactions were observed for various visual stimuli in brightness changes. With regard to the characteristics of pupillary changes, a model with a three-layer neural network was developed and the performance was evaluated. Characteristics of pupil reactions during model development are summarized here. The second part examines the possibility of estimating the viewer's interest and enjoyment of television programs by measuring dynamic pupillary changes, blinking, and subjective interest responses. The final part describes a development of estimation model of pupil size for blink artifact. The model development was able to estimate pupillary changes and pupil size while the viewer was blinking and was applied to pupillary changes in viewing television programs.

This book focuses on a development for assessing mental changes using eye pupil reactions, namely extracting emotional change from the response to evaluate the viewer's interest in visual information.  The pupil of the eye reacts to both brightness and emotional state, including interest, enjoyment, and mental workload. Because pupillary change is a biological signal, various artifacts influence measurements of eye images. Technical procedures are required to extract mental activities from pupillary changes, and they are summarized here step by step, although some procedures contain earlier techniques such as analog video processing.  This study examines the possibility of estimating the viewer's interest and enjoyment of viewing movies by measuring the dynamic pupillary changes, blinking, and subjective interest responses. In evaluation of pupil size, there was a significant difference in pupil size between the higher and the lower shot for the degree of subject interest response in each kind of movies. The first part of the book shows a pupil reaction model for brightness changes to extract mental activities. Pupil reactions were observed for various visual stimuli in brightness changes. With regard to the characteristics of pupillary changes, a model with a three-layer neural network was developed and the performance was evaluated. Characteristics of pupil reactions during model development are summarized here. The second part examines the possibility of estimating the viewer's interest and enjoyment of television programs by measuring dynamic pupillary changes, blinking, and subjective interest responses. The final part describes a development of estimation model of pupil size for blink artifact. The model development was able to estimate pupillary changes and pupil size while the viewer was blinking and was applied to pupillary changes in viewing television programs.

This book brings together two major trends: data science and blockchains. It is one of the first books to systematically cover the analytics aspects of blockchains, with the goal of linking traditional data mining research communities with novel data sources. Data science and big data technologies can be considered cornerstones of the data-driven digital transformation of organizations and society. The concept of blockchain is predicted to enable and spark transformation on par with that associated with the invention of the Internet. Cryptocurrencies are the first successful use case of highly distributed blockchains, like the world wide web was to the Internet. The book takes the reader through basic data exploration topics, proceeding systematically, method by method, through supervised and unsupervised learning approaches and information visualization techniques, all the way to understanding the blockchain data from the network science perspective. Chapters introduce the cryptocurrency blockchain data model and methods to explore it using structured query language, association rules, clustering, classification, visualization, and network science. Each chapter introduces basic concepts, presents examples with real cryptocurrency blockchain data and offers exercises and questions for further discussion. Such an approach intends to serve as a good starting point for undergraduate and graduate students to learn data science topics using cryptocurrency blockchain examples. It is also aimed at researchers and analysts who already possess good analytical and data skills, but who do not yet have the specific knowledge to tackle analytic questions about blockchain transactions. The readers improve their knowledge about the essential data science techniques in order to turn mere transactional information into social, economic, and business insights.

This book brings together two major trends: data science and blockchains. It is one of the first books to systematically cover the analytics aspects of blockchains, with the goal of linking traditional data mining research communities with novel data sources. Data science and big data technologies can be considered cornerstones of the data-driven digital transformation of organizations and society. The concept of blockchain is predicted to enable and spark transformation on par with that associated with the invention of the Internet. Cryptocurrencies are the first successful use case of highly distributed blockchains, like the world wide web was to the Internet. The book takes the reader through basic data exploration topics, proceeding systematically, method by method, through supervised and unsupervised learning approaches and information visualization techniques, all the way to understanding the blockchain data from the network science perspective. Chapters introduce the cryptocurrency blockchain data model and methods to explore it using structured query language, association rules, clustering, classification, visualization, and network science. Each chapter introduces basic concepts, presents examples with real cryptocurrency blockchain data and offers exercises and questions for further discussion. Such an approach intends to serve as a good starting point for undergraduate and graduate students to learn data science topics using cryptocurrency blockchain examples. It is also aimed at researchers and analysts who already possess good analytical and data skills, but who do not yet have the specific knowledge to tackle analytic questions about blockchain transactions. The readers improve their knowledge about the essential data science techniques in order to turn mere transactional information into social, economic, and business insights.

This book offers a new look at well-established quantification theory for categorical data, referred to by such names as correspondence analysis, dual scaling, optimal scaling, and homogeneity analysis. These multiple identities are a consequence of its large number of properties that allow one to analyze and visualize the strength of variable association in an optimal solution. The book contains modern quantification theory for analyzing the association between two and more categorical variables in a variety of applicative frameworks.Visualization has attracted much attention over the past decades and given rise to controversial opinions. One may consider variations of plotting systems used in the construction of the classic correspondence plot, the biplot, the Carroll-Green-Schaffer scaling, or a new approach in doubled multidimensional space as presented in the book. There are even arguments for no visualization at all.The purpose of this book therefore is to shed new light on time-honored graphical procedures with critical reviews, new ideas, and future directions as alternatives. This stimulating volume is written with fresh new ideas from the traditional framework and the contemporary points of view. It thus offers readers a deep understanding of the ever-evolving nature of quantification theory and its practice.Part I starts with illustrating contingency table analysis with traditional joint graphical displays (symmetric, non-symmetric) and the CGS scaling and then explores logically correct graphs in doubled Euclidean space for both row and column variables. Part II covers a variety of mathematical approaches to the biplot strategy in graphing a data structure, providing a useful source for this modern approach to graphical display. Part II is also concerned with a number of alternative approaches to the joint graphical display such as bimodal cluster analysis and other statistical problems relevant to quantification theory.

This book offers a new look at well-established quantification theory for categorical data, referred to by such names as correspondence analysis, dual scaling, optimal scaling, and homogeneity analysis. These multiple identities are a consequence of its large number of properties that allow one to analyze and visualize the strength of variable association in an optimal solution. The book contains modern quantification theory for analyzing the association between two and more categorical variables in a variety of applicative frameworks.Visualization has attracted much attention over the past decades and given rise to controversial opinions. One may consider variations of plotting systems used in the construction of the classic correspondence plot, the biplot, the Carroll-Green-Schaffer scaling, or a new approach in doubled multidimensional space as presented in the book. There are even arguments for no visualization at all.The purpose of this book therefore is to shed new light on time-honored graphical procedures with critical reviews, new ideas, and future directions as alternatives. This stimulating volume is written with fresh new ideas from the traditional framework and the contemporary points of view. It thus offers readers a deep understanding of the ever-evolving nature of quantification theory and its practice.Part I starts with illustrating contingency table analysis with traditional joint graphical displays (symmetric, non-symmetric) and the CGS scaling and then explores logically correct graphs in doubled Euclidean space for both row and column variables. Part II covers a variety of mathematical approaches to the biplot strategy in graphing a data structure, providing a useful source for this modern approach to graphical display. Part II is also concerned with a number of alternative approaches to the joint graphical display such as bimodal cluster analysis and other statistical problems relevant to quantification theory.

This book provides an accessible introduction and practical guidelines to apply asymmetric multidimensional scaling, cluster analysis, and related methods to asymmetric one-mode two-way and three-way asymmetric data. A major objective of this book is to present to applied researchers a set of methods and algorithms for graphical representation and clustering of asymmetric relationships. Data frequently concern measurements of asymmetric relationships between pairs of objects from a given set (e.g., subjects, variables, attributes,…), collected in one or more matrices. Examples abound in many different fields such as psychology, sociology, marketing research, and linguistics and more recently several applications have appeared in technological areas including cybernetics, air traffic control, robotics, and network analysis. The capabilities of the presented algorithms are illustrated by carefully chosen examples and supported by extensive data analyses. A review of the specialized statistical software available for the applications is also provided. This monograph is highly recommended to readers who need a complete and up-to-date reference on methods for asymmetric proximity data analysis.

This book provides an accessible introduction and practical guidelines to apply asymmetric multidimensional scaling, cluster analysis, and related methods to asymmetric one-mode two-way and three-way asymmetric data. A major objective of this book is to present to applied researchers a set of methods and algorithms for graphical representation and clustering of asymmetric relationships. Data frequently concern measurements of asymmetric relationships between pairs of objects from a given set (e.g., subjects, variables, attributes,…), collected in one or more matrices. Examples abound in many different fields such as psychology, sociology, marketing research, and linguistics and more recently several applications have appeared in technological areas including cybernetics, air traffic control, robotics, and network analysis. The capabilities of the presented algorithms are illustrated by carefully chosen examples and supported by extensive data analyses. A review of the specialized statistical software available for the applications is also provided. This monograph is highly recommended to readers who need a complete and up-to-date reference on methods for asymmetric proximity data analysis.

The main focus of this book is presenting practical procedures for improving learning effectiveness using note taking activities during e-learning courses.Although presentation of e-learning activities recently has been spreading to various education sectors, some practical problems have been discussed such as evaluation of learning performance and encouragement of students. The authors introduce note taking activity as a conventional learning tool in order to promote individual learning activity and learning efficacy. The effectiveness of note taking has been measured in practical teaching in a Japanese university using techniques of learning analytics, and the results are shown here.The relationships between note taking activity and students’ characteristics, the possibility of predicting the final learning performance using metrics of students’ note taking, and the effectiveness for individual emotional learning factors are evaluated. Some differences between blended learning and fully online learning courses are also discussed. The authors provide novel analytical procedures and ideas to manage e-learning courses. In particular, the assessment of note taking activity may help to track individual learning progress and to encourage learning motivation.

The main focus of this book is presenting practical procedures for improving learning effectiveness using note taking activities during e-learning courses.Although presentation of e-learning activities recently has been spreading to various education sectors, some practical problems have been discussed such as evaluation of learning performance and encouragement of students. The authors introduce note taking activity as a conventional learning tool in order to promote individual learning activity and learning efficacy. The effectiveness of note taking has been measured in practical teaching in a Japanese university using techniques of learning analytics, and the results are shown here.The relationships between note taking activity and students’ characteristics, the possibility of predicting the final learning performance using metrics of students’ note taking, and the effectiveness for individual emotional learning factors are evaluated. Some differences between blended learning and fully online learning courses are also discussed. The authors provide novel analytical procedures and ideas to manage e-learning courses. In particular, the assessment of note taking activity may help to track individual learning progress and to encourage learning motivation.

This book offers a unique new look at the familiar quantification theory from the point of view of mathematical symmetry and spatial symmetry. Symmetry exists in many aspects of our life—for instance, in the arts and biology as an ingredient of beauty and equilibrium, and more importantly, for data analysis as an indispensable representation of functional optimality. This unique focus on symmetry clarifies the objectives of quantification theory and the demarcation of quantification space, something that has never caught the attention of researchers.Mathematical symmetry is well known, as can be inferred from Hirschfeld’s simultaneous linear regressions, but spatial symmetry has not been discussed before, except for what one may infer from Nishisato’s dual scaling. The focus on symmetry here clarifies the demarcation of quantification analysis and makes it easier to understand such a perennial problem as that of joint graphical display in quantification theory. The new framework will help advance the frontier of further developments of quantification theory. Many numerical examples are included to clarify the details of quantification theory, with a focus on symmetry as its operational principle. In this way, the book is useful not only for graduate students but also for researchers in diverse areas of data analysis.

This book offers a unique new look at the familiar quantification theory from the point of view of mathematical symmetry and spatial symmetry. Symmetry exists in many aspects of our life—for instance, in the arts and biology as an ingredient of beauty and equilibrium, and more importantly, for data analysis as an indispensable representation of functional optimality. This unique focus on symmetry clarifies the objectives of quantification theory and the demarcation of quantification space, something that has never caught the attention of researchers.Mathematical symmetry is well known, as can be inferred from Hirschfeld’s simultaneous linear regressions, but spatial symmetry has not been discussed before, except for what one may infer from Nishisato’s dual scaling. The focus on symmetry here clarifies the demarcation of quantification analysis and makes it easier to understand such a perennial problem as that of joint graphical display in quantification theory. The new framework will help advance the frontier of further developments of quantification theory. Many numerical examples are included to clarify the details of quantification theory, with a focus on symmetry as its operational principle. In this way, the book is useful not only for graduate students but also for researchers in diverse areas of data analysis.

This is the first technical book that considers tests as public tools and examines how to engineer and process test data, extract the structure within the data to be visualized, and thereby make test results useful for students, teachers, and the society. The author does not differentiate test data analysis from data engineering and information visualization. This monograph introduces the following methods of engineering or processing test data, including the latest machine learning techniques: classical test theory (CTT), item response theory (IRT), latent class analysis (LCA), latent rank analysis (LRA), biclustering (co-clustering), and Bayesian network model (BNM). CTT and IRT are methods for analyzing test data and evaluating students’ abilities on a continuous scale. LCA and LRA assess examinees by classifying them into nominal and ordinal clusters, respectively, where the adequate number of clusters is estimated from the data. Biclustering classifies examinees into groups (latent clusters) while classifying items into fields (factors). Particularly, the infinite relational model discussed in this book is a biclustering method feasible under the condition that neither the number of groups nor the number of fields is known beforehand. Additionally, the local dependence LRA, local dependence biclustering, and bicluster network model are methods that search and visualize inter-item (or inter-field) network structure using the mechanism of BNM. As this book offers a new perspective on test data analysis methods, it is certain to widen readers’ perspective on test data analysis.

This is the first technical book that considers tests as public tools and examines how to engineer and process test data, extract the structure within the data to be visualized, and thereby make test results useful for students, teachers, and the society. The author does not differentiate test data analysis from data engineering and information visualization. This monograph introduces the following methods of engineering or processing test data, including the latest machine learning techniques: classical test theory (CTT), item response theory (IRT), latent class analysis (LCA), latent rank analysis (LRA), biclustering (co-clustering), and Bayesian network model (BNM). CTT and IRT are methods for analyzing test data and evaluating students’ abilities on a continuous scale. LCA and LRA assess examinees by classifying them into nominal and ordinal clusters, respectively, where the adequate number of clusters is estimated from the data. Biclustering classifies examinees into groups (latent clusters) while classifying items into fields (factors). Particularly, the infinite relational model discussed in this book is a biclustering method feasible under the condition that neither the number of groups nor the number of fields is known beforehand. Additionally, the local dependence LRA, local dependence biclustering, and bicluster network model are methods that search and visualize inter-item (or inter-field) network structure using the mechanism of BNM. As this book offers a new perspective on test data analysis methods, it is certain to widen readers’ perspective on test data analysis.

This book discusses recent theoretical developments in agglomerative hierarchical clustering. The general understanding of agglomerative hierarchical clustering is that its theory was completed long ago and there is no room for further methodological studies, at least in its fundamental structure. This book has been planned counter to that view: it will show that there are possibilities for further theoretical studies and they will be not only for methodological interests but also for usefulness in real applications. When compared with traditional textbooks, the present book has several notable features. First, standard linkage methods and agglomerative procedure are described by a general algorithm in which dendrogram output is expressed by a recursive subprogram. That subprogram describes an abstract tree structure, which is used for a two-stage linkage method for a greater number of objects. A fundamental theorem for single linkage using a fuzzy graph is proved, which uncovers several theoretical features of single linkage. Other theoretical properties such as dendrogram reversals are discussed. New methods using positive-definite kernels are considered, and some properties of the Ward method using kernels are studied. Overall, theoretical features are discussed, but the results are useful as well for application-oriented users of agglomerative clustering.

This book discusses recent theoretical developments in agglomerative hierarchical clustering. The general understanding of agglomerative hierarchical clustering is that its theory was completed long ago and there is no room for further methodological studies, at least in its fundamental structure. This book has been planned counter to that view: it will show that there are possibilities for further theoretical studies and they will be not only for methodological interests but also for usefulness in real applications. When compared with traditional textbooks, the present book has several notable features. First, standard linkage methods and agglomerative procedure are described by a general algorithm in which dendrogram output is expressed by a recursive subprogram. That subprogram describes an abstract tree structure, which is used for a two-stage linkage method for a greater number of objects. A fundamental theorem for single linkage using a fuzzy graph is proved, which uncovers several theoretical features of single linkage. Other theoretical properties such as dendrogram reversals are discussed. New methods using positive-definite kernels are considered, and some properties of the Ward method using kernels are studied. Overall, theoretical features are discussed, but the results are useful as well for application-oriented users of agglomerative clustering.

This book provides methods and applications of latent class analysis, and the following topics are taken up in the focus of discussion: basic latent structure models in a framework of generalized linear models, exploratory latent class analysis, latent class analysis with ordered latent classes, a latent class model approach for analyzing learning structures, the latent Markov analysis for longitudinal data, and path analysis with latent class models. The maximum likelihood estimation procedures for latent class models are constructed via the expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm, and along with it, latent profile and latent trait models are also treated. Entropy-based discussions for latent class models are given as advanced approaches, for example, comparison of latent classes in a latent class cluster model, assessing latent class models, path analysis, and so on. In observing human behaviors and responses to various stimuli and test items, it is valid to assume they are dominated by certain factors. This book plays a significant role in introducing latent structure analysis to not only young researchers and students studying behavioral sciences, but also to those investigating other fields of scientific research.

This book provides methods and applications of latent class analysis, and the following topics are taken up in the focus of discussion: basic latent structure models in a framework of generalized linear models, exploratory latent class analysis, latent class analysis with ordered latent classes, a latent class model approach for analyzing learning structures, the latent Markov analysis for longitudinal data, and path analysis with latent class models. The maximum likelihood estimation procedures for latent class models are constructed via the expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm, and along with it, latent profile and latent trait models are also treated. Entropy-based discussions for latent class models are given as advanced approaches, for example, comparison of latent classes in a latent class cluster model, assessing latent class models, path analysis, and so on. In observing human behaviors and responses to various stimuli and test items, it is valid to assume they are dominated by certain factors. This book plays a significant role in introducing latent structure analysis to not only young researchers and students studying behavioral sciences, but also to those investigating other fields of scientific research.

This book provides expository derivations for moments of a family of pseudo distributions, which is an extended family of distributions including the pseudo normal (PN) distributions recently proposed by the author. The PN includes the skew normal (SN) derived by A. Azzalini and the closed skew normal (CSN) obtained by A. Domínguez-Molina, G. González-Farías, and A. K. Gupta as special cases. It is known that the CSN includes the SN and other various distributions as special cases, which shows that the PN has a wider variety of distributions. The SN and CSN have symmetric and skewed asymmetric distributions. However, symmetric distributions are restricted to normal ones. On the other hand, symmetric distributions in the PN can be non-normal as well as normal. In this book, for the non-normal symmetric distributions, the term “kurtic normal (KN)” is used, where the coined word “kurtic” indicates “mesokurtic, leptokurtic, or platykurtic” used in statistics. The variety of the PN was made possible using stripe (tigerish) and sectional truncation in univariate and multivariate distributions, respectively. The proofs of the moments and associated results are not omitted and are often given in more than one method with their didactic explanations.

This book provides expository derivations for moments of a family of pseudo distributions, which is an extended family of distributions including the pseudo normal (PN) distributions recently proposed by the author. The PN includes the skew normal (SN) derived by A. Azzalini and the closed skew normal (CSN) obtained by A. Domínguez-Molina, G. González-Farías, and A. K. Gupta as special cases. It is known that the CSN includes the SN and other various distributions as special cases, which shows that the PN has a wider variety of distributions. The SN and CSN have symmetric and skewed asymmetric distributions. However, symmetric distributions are restricted to normal ones. On the other hand, symmetric distributions in the PN can be non-normal as well as normal. In this book, for the non-normal symmetric distributions, the term “kurtic normal (KN)” is used, where the coined word “kurtic” indicates “mesokurtic, leptokurtic, or platykurtic” used in statistics. The variety of the PN was made possible using stripe (tigerish) and sectional truncation in univariate and multivariate distributions, respectively. The proofs of the moments and associated results are not omitted and are often given in more than one method with their didactic explanations.

This monograph focuses on the development of diagnostic procedures for diseases related to retinal nerve conditions using features of waveforms of pupillary light reflex (PLR).Eye pupil reflection of light pulses is a well-known phenomenon, but the response mechanism is complicated. Some relationships of the features of chromatic light stimuli and activity of retinal ganglion cells influence the responses. As the features of pupil responses may represent the condition of nerve connections, these waveform shapes can detect symptoms of disease.The assistance of medical clinicians who have shared PLR data from patients of aged-macular degeneration (AMD) or patients with impaired cognitive function, as caused by Alzheimer’s disease, for example, is gratefully acknowledged. The recorded temporal data of PLR waveforms were analyzed using multivariate analysis or data science techniques. As most participants were elderly or the number of measurements was insufficient, the signal processing required compensatory techniques.As a result, trials and re-analyses were carried out to better understand certain features. Although the best solutions have not yet been developed, the authors have decided to share the currently available procedures in this monograph and to solicit constructive suggestions for further improvement and development.