1. A method of identifying groups of related characteristics, comprising: receiving, at a computer: a plurality of data items, related to individuals; a plurality of descriptors, identifying the individuals; a plurality of characteristics, defining categories of the individuals; and a metric; calculating a first set of relationships between the data items and one or more of the individuals identified by the plurality of descriptors, wherein each relationship comprises a magnitude and direction; calculating a second set of relationships between the characteristics and the data items, wherein each relationship comprises a magnitude and direction; calculating a third set of relationships between the metric and the characteristics, wherein each relationship comprises a magnitude and direction; identifying groups of one or more of the characteristics based on the second set of relationships and the third set of relationships; dynamically calculating a metric score based on the identified groups; and outputting the metric score.