The BC TRY integrated statistical computer package

Abstract

The statistical features and general characteristics of an integrated statistical package, BC TRY, are reported. The BC TRY system of cluster and factor analysis includes many of the same descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses accomplished by the best of the packages reviewed by Berk (1977l, as well as some unique routines, and it provides the user with exceptional flexibility.Berk (l977) recently surveyed seven integrated packages of computer programs for statistical analyses. Selection was made on the basis of "frequency of use in descriptive and experimental research and compatibility with third-generation computers." The purpose of this paper is to document the statistical features and general characteristics of the BC TRY system of cluster and factor analysis (Tryon & Bailey, 1966 in a manner parallel to that employed by Berk. One of the first such packages to be developed, it continues to be widely used and much in demand. Originally written for the IBM 709 series, the programs are currently running on CDC 6400 (KRONOS operating system) and CYBER (NOS operating system) systems.The BC TRY system is an example of a higher order of "integration" than that offered by other statistical packages. The integration of most packages is very loose, with frequent points of incompatibility and inconsistency in data manipulation, data flow, and transmission of data to and from elements in the package. Functional aspects of the integrative elements of a package are important in its utility. Many packages, however, include components without the necessary focus on integration between components within the system. In this paper we describe some of the integrative features included in the BC TRY system.