What Does NMDS Stand For?

NMDS stands for Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling

Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) is a statistical technique used for visualizing complex data sets in reduced dimensions. It focuses on preserving the rank order of distances or dissimilarities between data points rather than their actual distances. NMDS is particularly useful in exploratory data analysis, allowing researchers to identify patterns, relationships, and groupings within high-dimensional data across various fields, including ecology, psychology, and market research. The method iteratively optimizes the arrangement of data points in a lower-dimensional space to accurately reflect the structure of the original data, facilitating interpretation and visualization.