The classification of cities: Evaluation of Q-mode factor analysis

Abstract

Q-mode factor analysis is advocated as a direct method of grouping cities on the basis of similarities in their economic functions. The research background to this paper is reviewed; the major analytical steps in a case study of Ontario-Quebec cities are described; the technical problems of the work are discussed as are the main results of the Q-mode varimax and direct oblimin factor analyses. An evaluation is then made of the technique by employing a two-stage procedure comparable with that in a number of other studies. Not only does Q-mode analysis act as an effective grouping method but it provides information on the structural rationale of the city groups it allows to be formed.