Multivariate Applications

Food data are becoming increasing multivariate in nature and response measures can comprise several univariate types. This chapter provides some indication of how to take the univariate methods a stage further and apply them to multivariate situations. The methods illustrated in the chapter require more sophisticated software that is less generally available, although most examples are analysed using SPSS (SPSS Software), which is available as a student version. In the univariate case, independent and dependent variables have been identified. For the multivariate situation, the number of both independent and dependent variables can increase. A selection of commonly used more advanced and multivariate methods are briefly described, with more detail on principal component analysis (PCA). The analysis of sensory and instrumental data and how to combine them in the multivariate context concludes.