I'd like to perform a cluster analysis on ordinal data (Likert scale) by using spss. I have around 140 observations and 20 variables that are scaled from 1 to 5 (1: I strongly agree, 3: neutral, 5: I strongly disagree). As a result, I want to assign one cluster to each person, such as person 1 belongs to the group of technology-enthusiastic users...

Since I'm new in that area, I want to ask you, if you might help me with regard to the procedure. I have already read something about cluster analysis in the Internet, but there are different opinions on how to treat ordinal data.

Is it a common way to convert the ordinal data to interval data first and then perform the cluster analysis?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I'd like to perform a cluster analysis on ordinal data (Likert scale) by using SPSS. I have around 140 observations and 20 variables that are scaled from 1 to 5 (1: I strongly agree, 3: neutral, 5: I strongly disagree). As a result, I want to assign one cluster to each person, such as person 1 belongs to the group of technology-enthusiastic users...

Since I'm new in that area, I want to ask you, if you might help me with regard to the procedure. I have already read something about cluster analysis in the Internet, but there are different opinions on how to treat ordinal data.

Is it a common way to convert the ordinal data to interval data first and then perform the cluster analysis?