Canonical Variate Analysis

Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) is a statistical technique used to distinguish and analyze differences among multiple groups based on several measured variables. It identifies new combined variables—called canonical variates—that maximize the separation between groups, making it easier to see how groups differ overall. For example, it might be used in biology to differentiate species based on multiple traits, or in marketing to compare customer segments. Essentially, CVA condenses complex data into key dimensions that highlight group differences, providing a clear visual and analytical way to understand relationships among multiple categories.