Metric and Euclidean properties of dissimilarity coefficients (original) (raw)

We assemble here properties of certain dissimilarity coefficients and are specially concerned with their metric and Euclidean status. No attempt is made to be exhaustive as far as coefficients are concerned, but certain mathematical results that we have found useful are presented and should help establish similar properties for other coefficients. The response to different types of data is investigated, leading to guidance on the choice of an appropriate coefficient. R6sum~: Ce travail pr6sente quelques propri6t6s de certains coefficients de ressemblance et en particulier leur capacit6 de produire des matrices de distance m&riques et euclidiennes. Sans pr&endre ~tre exhaustifs dans cette revue de coefficients, nous pr6sentons certains r6sultats math6matiques que nous croyons int6ressants et qui pourraient ~tre 6tablis pour d'autres coefficients. Finalement, nous analysons la r6ponse des mesures de ressemblance face ~ diff6rents types de donn6es, ce qui permet de formuler des recommandations quant au choix d'un coefficient.