Generalized canonical correlation analysis with missing values

Generalized canonical correlation analysis is a versatile technique that allows the joint analysis of several sets of data matrices. The generalized canonical correlation analysis solution can be obtained through an eigenequation and distributional assumptions are not required. When dealing with multiple set data, the situation frequently occurs that some values are missing. In this paper, two new methods for dealing with missing values in generalized canonical correlation analysis are introduced. The first approach, which does not require iterations, is a generalization of the Test Equating method available for principal component analysis. In the second approach, missing values are imputed in such a way that the generalized canonical correlation analysis objective function does not increase in subsequent steps. Convergence is achieved when the value of the objective function remains constant. By means of a simulation study, we assess the performance of the new methods. We compare the results with those of two available methods; the missing-data passive method, introduced in Gifi’s homogeneity analysis framework, and the GENCOM algorithm developed by Green and Carroll. An application using world bank data is used to illustrate the proposed methods.