Clustering is a method of brainstorming. It stresses the connections between concepts. Clustering is often referred to as webbing or mapping. In fact, clustering is the foundation of all visual brainstorming techniques. The term "cluster" comes from the fact that ideas are grouped into clusters based on similarity. For example, if you were trying to come up with new products for a company, you might cluster similar ideas together under one label (e.g., clothing) or group them by category (e.g., shirts-pants-scarves). Clustering can be done manually by creating labels or categories to group ideas, or it can be done using computer software. Manual clustering requires that you understand the range of ideas being considered and then group them accordingly. This process can be difficult if you have many different ideas to consider. Thus, manual clustering is not recommended unless you have enough time to do so. Computer-assisted clustering uses statistics and algorithms to identify groups of related ideas without strict supervision from the user. These groups are called clusters. Cluster analysis is a widely used tool in marketing research to find patterns in consumer behavior. A marketer might use this technique to find themes in online survey responses, for example, or to group products that show similar levels of popularity among buyers.