OWA-based linkage method in hierarchical clustering: Application on phylogenetic trees

The linkage methods are mostly used in hierarchical clustering. In this paper, we integrate Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) operator with hierarchical clustering in order to find distances between clusters. In case of using OWA operator in order to find distance between clusters, OWA acts as a generalized case of single linkage, complete linkage, and average linkage methods. In order to illustrate the proposed method, we handle a phylogenetic tree constructed by hierarchical clustering of protein sequences. To illustrate the efficiency of the method, we use 2D-data set. We obtain graphs demonstrating the relationships of the clusters and we calculate the root-mean-square standard deviation (RMSSDT) and R-squared (RS) validity indices, respectively, which are frequently used to evaluate results of the hierarchical clustering algorithms.

► We integrate Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) operator with hierarchical clustering.
► OWA acts as a generalized case of single, complete and average linkage methods.
► Phylogenetic tree of protein sequences are constructed by OWA-based linkage.
► Cluster validity indices verify the efficiency of the proposed method.