This study was concerned with various schemes for reducing the number of variables in a multivariate analysis. Two sets of illustrative data were used; the numbers of criterion groups were 3 and 5. The proportion of correct classifications was employed as an index of discriminatory power of each subset of variables selected. Of the four procedures using indices that order the variables with respect to contribution to discrimination, the (forward) stepwise procedure yielded the best results. Of the two schemes involving dimensional analysis, that which uses correlations of scores on variables with high maximum likelihood factor loadings against discriminant scores appeared more attractive. (Author)