the diffusion possibility method: a more general and simpler solution to Galton's problem¹

A new statistical technique permits detection of the influence of certain types of diffusion on the results of a cross‐cultural analysis. The key tool is a “diffusion possibility matrix” which shows the possibility of diffusion occuring between each pair of societies in the sample. With the aid of such a matrix, several different kinds of clustering tests are described and demonstrated. The method has the advantage of greater flexibility and simplicity than previous methods, as well as greater statistical power .