PARTIAL LEAST SQUARES REGRESSION

Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression is a multivariate data analysis technique which can be used to relate several response (Y) variables to several explanatory (X) variables.

The method aims to identify the underlying factors, or linear combination of the X variables, which best model the Y dependent variables.

PLS can deal efficiently with data sets where there are very many variables that are highly correlated and involving substantial random noise.

The method has been applied in many areas of research and technology:

• ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
• ECOLOGY
• AGRICULTURE
• FOOD SCIENCE
• MEDICINE
• INDUSTRY

Author : M.Talbot , Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, UK © December 1997