# Standardization of compositional data in PCA versus using real data

I have a question about conducting a PCA between variables that are measured in different units. I understand the importance of using a correlation matrix versus a covariance matrix to minimize variance. The data I'm working with is not normally distributed and has not been transformed in other tests.

For example, there are three variables A, B, and C, and 20 observations, where 10 observations are measured using 1 set of units, and the other 10 observations are measured using another set of units*. The values between the units are quite different in in value and variance (expected). The data is not normal in either units and has not been transformed.

The measurements using the first set of units is 2 to 3 orders of magnitude higher than those measured using the other units (expected). I have conducted a PCA using a correlation matrix and interpreted results. However a non-statistician recommended I standardize' the measured data, such that I'm using ratio or fractions for all the observations for each of the variables: Variable A/(sum of all 3 variables) and so on and so forth for Variables B and C.

However, a PCA using the contributing fraction of each variable is different from PCA using the measured value in different units leading to different eigenvalues and eigenvectors, thus leading to two different scientific interpretations.

Beyond using the appropriate association matrix, Is this "standardization" step valid and or necessary from a statistical perspective? Update: Should PCA be done on compositional data?

• I didn't understand about the different sets of units - units of measurement or experimental units (two groups of individuals with A, B, & C measured on each individual)? – Scortchi - Reinstate Monica Jul 15 '13 at 9:53
• Yes different units of measuring the variable a, b, and c in different samples. As an example, variable A is measured in units of mass, while variable B is measured in units of force. This leads to differences in absolute values and variances in the data set. – Oleic Jul 16 '13 at 0:36
• That different variables are measured in different units is the situation that typically leads people to want to standardize them i.e. use the correlation matrix for PCA. (I'm still not sure quite what you meant by 20 observations being made of three variables, 10 using one set of units & 10 using another.) – Scortchi - Reinstate Monica Jul 16 '13 at 8:36
• It's also hard to see what meaning you'd give to $\frac{A}{A+B+C}$ when $A$, $B$, & $C$ are each measured in different units. – Scortchi - Reinstate Monica Jul 16 '13 at 8:47

Second, whether it's more meaningful to express each variable as a fraction of the sum of variables for each individual is for you to decide, before thinking about principal components. If it is more meaningful, PCA on the data thus transformed may not be what you want: any one variable is expressible in terms of the other two, which are still constrained not to exceed unity in total. A scatterplot would be an obvious method to look at three variables, using barycentric co-ordinates if you like. If you still need PCA for something, Aitchison (1983), Biometrika 70 (1) discusses the issues, & gives useful transformations to use for vectors of proportions, & you may be interested in the R packages compositions & robCompositions`.
• Just that if if you measure $A$ as say 50%, & $B$ as say 30%, then you know $C$ is 20% because the total must be 100%. So the last principal component will always have an eigenvalue of zero: you might as well just carry out PCA on A & B; & even then linear correlations are probably not so relevant to you. – Scortchi - Reinstate Monica Jul 16 '13 at 8:22