{
  "abstract": "Introduction Cluster analysis, a machine learning-based and data-driven technique for identifying groups in data, has demonstrated its potential in a wide range of contexts. However, critical appraisal and reproducibility are often limited by insufficient reporting, ultimately hampering the interpretation and trust of key stakeholders. The present paper describes the protocol that will guide the development of a reporting guideline and checklist for studies incorporating cluster analyses—Transparent Reporting of Cluster Analyses.Methods and analysis Following the recommended steps for developing reporting guidelines outlined by the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research Network, the work will be divided into six stages. Stage 1: literature review to guide development of initial checklist. Stage 2: drafting of the initial checklist. Stage 3: internal revision of checklist. Stage 4: Delphi study in a global sample of researchers from varying fields ( n=≈) to derive consensus regarding items in the checklist and piloting of the checklist. Stage 5: consensus meeting to consolidate checklist. Stage 6: production of statement paper and explanation and elaboration paper. Stage 7: dissemination via journals, conferences, social media and a dedicated web platform.Ethics and dissemination Due to local regulations, the planned study is exempt from the requirement of ethical review. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications. The checklist with explanations will also be made available freely on a dedicated web platform ( troca-statement.org) and in a repository.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, The OLIN Unit, Umeå Universitet, Umeå, Sweden",
        "Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden"
      ],
      "name": "Daniil Lisik"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "The University of Edinburgh Usher Institute, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Syed Ahmar Shah"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden",
        "Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden"
      ],
      "name": "Rani Basna"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "CMC University, Hanoi, Vietnam",
        "The Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics, Kyoto, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Tai Dinh"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada"
      ],
      "name": "Ryan P Browne"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Statistics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada"
      ],
      "name": "Jeffrey L Andrews"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Psychiatry, Statistics and Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Meredith Wallace"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Unit for Data Science and Computing, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Absalom Ezugwu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia"
      ],
      "name": "Ana Marusic"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Dat Tran"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Computer Science, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Joaquín Torres-Sospedra"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Nomi, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Hieu-Chi Dam"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Big Data Institute, Shenzhen University College of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China"
      ],
      "name": "Philippe Fournier-Viger"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Statistical Sciences ‘Paolo Fortunati’, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "Christian Hennig"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Psychometrics and Statistics, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands"
      ],
      "name": "Marieke Timmerman"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "GION Education/Research, Department of Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands"
      ],
      "name": "Matthijs J Warrens"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Quantitative Psychology and Individual Differences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Eva Ceulemans"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden",
        "University of Gothenburg, Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden"
      ],
      "name": "Bright I Nwaru"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Tina M Hernandez-Boussard"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Protocol for development of a checklist and guideline for transparent reporting of cluster analyses (TRoCA)",
  "uid": "58d7e523-b810-5acc-bff1-68220081e293"
}