Non-metric Multi-Dimensional Scaling

Non-metric Multi-Dimensional Scaling (NMDS) is a technique used to visualize the similarities or differences between items based on how they compare, rather than exact measurements. It takes complex data—like psychological traits or ecological differences—and maps it onto a simple space (like a 2D or 3D plot), preserving the order of similarities. Items that are more similar appear closer together, while less similar ones are farther apart. NMDS focuses on the relative, rather than precise, distances, making it useful for understanding patterns across complex data sets where exact measurements are difficult or less meaningful.