Cluster Analytic Detection of Biological Sex: A Second Look

Golden and Meehl (1980) conducted a simulation with MMPI items to determine the accuracy of six popular clustering methods in detecting biological sex. They concluded that the results were "poor to mediocre" and that clustering methods have limited potential for contributing to knowledge. Their conclusion is inconsistent with the prior Monte Carlo literature on cluster analysis. A second look at the Golden-Meehl results reveals satisfactory clustering performance when they used the better MMPI item sets. Using Ward's clustering method and vocational interest items, the Golden-Meehl design was replicated with conditions providing a firmer inferential base. The replication results matched the favorable Golden-Meehl trials. In general, the results showed that Ward's method performed well when clustering was done with the more appropriate items.