pams - Profile Analysis via Multidimensional Scaling
Implements Profile Analysis via Multidimensional Scaling
(PAMS) for the identification of population-level core response
profiles from cross-sectional and longitudinal person-score
data. Each person profile is decomposed into a level component
(the person mean) and a pattern component (ipsatized
subscores). PAMS uses nonmetric multidimensional scaling via
the SMACOF algorithm (de Leeuw & Mair, 2009) to identify a
small number of core profiles that represent the central
response patterns in a sample of any size. Bootstrap standard
errors and bias-corrected and accelerated (BCa) confidence
intervals for individual core profile coordinates are
estimated, enabling significance testing of coordinates that is
not available in other profile analysis methods such as cluster
profile analysis or latent profile analysis. Person-level
weights, R-squared values, and correlations with core profiles
are also estimated, allowing individual profiles to be
interpreted in terms of the core profile structure. PAMS can be
applied to both cross-sectional data and longitudinal data,
where core trajectory profiles describe how response patterns
change over time.