WHY MULTIVARIABLE ANALYSES

Following a brief interpretation of a multivariate analysis, purposes of such an analysis are reviewed. A discussion Of two primary purposes , prediction and structure identification, and of the secondary purpos e of response variable ordering is given. Concluding comments are made pertaining to the necessity of a sound initial choice of response var iables and to the questionable use of a multivariate analysis prelimin ary to simpler analyses if the latter constitute the analysis of inter pretive interest.