Comparison, through Multiple Factorial Analysis, of treatments for Cork oak Sudden Death

Multiple Factorial Analysis (MFA) uses p simultaneonly observed qualitative variables to analyse complex situations. The main features of MFA are presented. The part played by modalities, this is dummy variables associated to the original qualitative variables, and of the corresponding principal components is presented. Namely the relationship between these principal components and the initial qualitative variables is discussed. Treatments for cork oak plantations suffering of a serious disease called sudden death are compared through the use of MFA. This technique enables a global treatment of the information available and gives a clear ranking of the treatments according to their effectiveness.