> Hi,
>
> Have anyone any idea if any of the software package like (SPSS, s-Plus,
> Stata) includes any function in order to determine the optimum number of
> groups in a data set using stopping rules of cluster Analysis.
>
> Thanks everyone in advance.
> Sincerely yours,
> George Feretzakis (MSc in Biostatistics)
>
> _________________________________________________________________


The EMMIX software gives you the BIC value in order to assess
the number of groups for a given model-based cluster analysis.  You can
download EMMIX from the statlib site or from my homepage at:

               http://www.maths.uq.edu.au/~gjm

Geoff McLachlan