On an alternative formulation of the Fisher criterion that overcomes the small sample problem

摘要

In two very recently published rapid and brief communications, both from the same authors, an alternative formulation of the well-known Fisher criterion is presented in order to overcome the 'small sample problem'. A theorem in the first of the two communications provides the basis for the equivalence of both formulations. By providing a simple counterexample, we disprove the theorem. Subsequently, based on an illustrative example, we demonstrate that their criterion differs from the classical one and argue that the proposed criterion is not a suitable measure of discriminability. (c) 2006 Pattern Recognition Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.