The choice of the normalization method is one of the steps for constructing a composite indicator for metric data (see, e.g. Nardo et al., 2008, pp. 19-21). Normalization methods lead to different rankings of the set of objects based on composite indicator values. In the article 18 normalization methods and 5 aggregation measures (composite indicators) were taken into account. In the first step the groups of normalization methods, leading to identical rankings of the set of objects, were identified. The considerations included in Table 3 reduce this number to 10 normalization methods. Next, the article discusses the procedure which allows separating groups of normalization methods leading to similar rankings of the set of objects separately for each composite indicator formula. The proposal, based on Kendall’s tau correlation coefficient (Kendall, 1955) and cluster analysis, can reduce the problem of choosing the normalization method. Based on the suggested research procedure the simulation results for five composite indicators and ten normalization methods were presented. Moreover, the proposed approach was illustrated by an empirical example. Based on the analysis of the dendrograms three groups of normalization methods were separated. The biggest differences in the results of linear ordering refer to methods n2, n9a against the other normalization methods.

The notion of social cohesion is increasingly used in the political, economic and academic debate. Due to its multidimensional, the assessment of social cohesion is not easy, especially if it is conducted at a lower than national level of aggregation. The aim of the study is to assess social cohesion in provinces of Poland in 2018 using the hybrid approach involving multidimensional scaling and linear ordering based on an aggregate measure. This type of study is usually conducted using classic metric data. However, the traditional approach does not account for the variation between lower level units (i.e., districts). The authors propose a methodology which makes this possible. Additionally the results of assessment of the multidimensional phenomenon can be presented in a two-dimensional space. Classic metric data and symbolic interval-valued data (three data types: min-max, 1st decile and 9th decile, 2nd decile and 8th decile) are jointly represented in a single diagram. The consistency of the research method ensures comparability of results of linear ordering. Two criteria were used in the comparative analysis of four rankings of social cohesion. The results of the study clearly showed that the current level of social cohesion at the provinces level is geographically and historically dependent.