Parametric and non parametric test

Data Analysis
Statistics - a powerful tool for analyzing data
1. Descriptive Statistics - provide an overview
of the attributes of a data set. These include
measurements of central tendency (frequency
histograms, mean, median, & mode) and
dispersion (range, variance & standard
deviation)
2. Inferential Statistics - provide measures of how
well your data support your hypothesis and if
your data are generalizable beyond what was
tested (significance tests)

2 4 10 4 6 8 7 10 4 3 7 9 6 7 5 2 5 8 2 10
7 2 3 5 2 9 3 9 6 1 4 2 6 4 9 3 4 1 8 7
9 1 8 1 10 10 6 4 2 7 1 1 9 10 4 4 6 6 2 5
9 10 2 6 8 10 1 6 10 10 4 4 4 9 2 1 4 5 9 6
6 2 7 8 8 6 6 10 6 6 7 5 9 2 6 4 8 6 6 10
5 7 1 9 1 10 8 8 5 10 1 4 8 3 6 7 1 5 2 4
4 10 5 8 5 1 1 4 3 6 7 3 1 5 4 3 6 2 7 8
3 3 6 6 2 8 6 5 9 8 4 6 3 8 3 3 10 8 10 5
7 5 1 4 3 2 1 10 2 10 6 10 7 9 8 8 4 9 9 10
3 7 6 2 1 1 10 3 5 7 4 1 2 9 10 10 6 1 3 2
1 3 9 9 4 2 2 2 1 8 3 1 5 9 9 8 3 2 5 4
4 2 3 10 8 2 3 4 1 3 3 2 10 10 5 7 3 3 10 1
5 7 5 1 2 5 8 7 3 8 9 2 10 8 1 1 5 3 3 7
6 7 9 8 8 4 9 8 4 3 10 8 10 4 10 2 3 5 6 3
1 9 8 1 10 2 3 1 6 3 8 9 6 2 4 4 2 7 8 4
4 4 4 10 8 5 9 3 10 5 3 6 9 3 7 4 2 3 10 2
5 1 6 8 5 6 8 1 8 5 7 6 4 1 2 7 2 9 5 3
8 2 3 2 9 9 1 1 5 7 8 5 6 3 8 5 4 10 6 9
5 1 10 10 5 1 4 3 2 3 6 9 10 2 6 3 1 2 8 6
1 8 7 8 5 3 7 2 4 1 8 9 10 10 5 1 3 6 5 8
3 3 8 8 2 7 1 6 9 8 2 10 3 7 9 2 1 9 7 7
3 1 9 6 8 2 6 4 6 3 7 10 9 6 1 10 7 5 3 10
1 6 5 4 3 2 4 4 1 5 5 10 6 2 1 1 1 5 6 3
8 10 8 10 9 7 7 7 8 4 8 1 3 5 8 1 8 4 4 6
4 7 2 4 9 1 8 5 3 3 5 10 1 4 6 3 3 8 2 2
The Population
Population size = 500

2 4 10 4 6 8 7 10 4 3 7 9 6 7 5 2 5 8 2 10
7 2 3 5 2 9 3 9 6 1 4 2 6 4 9 3 4 1 8 7
9 1 8 1 10 10 6 4 2 7 1 1 9 10 4 4 6 6 2 5
9 10 2 6 8 10 1 6 10 10 4 4 4 9 2 1 4 5 9 6
6 2 7 8 8 6 6 10 6 6 7 5 9 2 6 4 8 6 6 10
5 7 1 9 1 10 8 8 5 10 1 4 8 3 6 7 1 5 2 4
4 10 5 8 5 1 1 4 3 6 7 3 1 5 4 3 6 2 7 8
3 3 6 6 2 8 6 5 9 8 4 6 3 8 3 3 10 8 10 5
7 5 1 4 3 2 1 10 2 10 6 10 7 9 8 8 4 9 9 10
3 7 6 2 1 1 10 3 5 7 4 1 2 9 10 10 6 1 3 2
1 3 9 9 4 2 2 2 1 8 3 1 5 9 9 8 3 2 5 4
4 2 3 10 8 2 3 4 1 3 3 2 10 10 5 7 3 3 10 1
5 7 5 1 2 5 8 7 3 8 9 2 10 8 1 1 5 3 3 7
6 7 9 8 8 4 9 8 4 3 10 8 10 4 10 2 3 5 6 3
1 9 8 1 10 2 3 1 6 3 8 9 6 2 4 4 2 7 8 4
4 4 4 10 8 5 9 3 10 5 3 6 9 3 7 4 2 3 10 2
5 1 6 8 5 6 8 1 8 5 7 6 4 1 2 7 2 9 5 3
8 2 3 2 9 9 1 1 5 7 8 5 6 3 8 5 4 10 6 9
5 1 10 10 5 1 4 3 2 3 6 9 10 2 6 3 1 2 8 6
1 8 7 8 5 3 7 2 4 1 8 9 10 10 5 1 3 6 5 8
3 3 8 8 2 7 1 6 9 8 2 10 3 7 9 2 1 9 7 7
3 1 9 6 8 2 6 4 6 3 7 10 9 6 1 10 7 5 3 10
1 6 5 4 3 2 4 4 1 5 5 10 6 2 1 1 1 5 6 3
8 10 8 10 9 7 7 7 8 4 8 1 3 5 8 1 8 4 4 6
4 7 2 4 9 1 8 5 3 3 5 10 1 4 6 3 3 8 2 2
The Sample: 7, 6, 4, 9, 8, 3, 2, 6, 1
mean = 5.111
The Population

2 4 10 4 6 8 7 10 4 3 7 9 6 7 5 2 5 8 2 10
7 2 3 5 2 9 3 9 6 1 4 2 6 4 9 3 4 1 8 7
9 1 8 1 10 10 6 4 2 7 1 1 9 10 4 4 6 6 2 5
9 10 2 6 8 10 1 6 10 10 4 4 4 9 2 1 4 5 9 6
6 2 7 8 8 6 6 10 6 6 7 5 9 2 6 4 8 6 6 10
5 7 1 9 1 10 8 8 5 10 1 4 8 3 6 7 1 5 2 4
4 10 5 8 5 1 1 4 3 6 7 3 1 5 4 3 6 2 7 8
3 3 6 6 2 8 6 5 9 8 4 6 3 8 3 3 10 8 10 5
7 5 1 4 3 2 1 10 2 10 6 10 7 9 8 8 4 9 9 10
3 7 6 2 1 1 10 3 5 7 4 1 2 9 10 10 6 1 3 2
1 3 9 9 4 2 2 2 1 8 3 1 5 9 9 8 3 2 5 4
4 2 3 10 8 2 3 4 1 3 3 2 10 10 5 7 3 3 10 1
5 7 5 1 2 5 8 7 3 8 9 2 10 8 1 1 5 3 3 7
6 7 9 8 8 4 9 8 4 3 10 8 10 4 10 2 3 5 6 3
1 9 8 1 10 2 3 1 6 3 8 9 6 2 4 4 2 7 8 4
4 4 4 10 8 5 9 3 10 5 3 6 9 3 7 4 2 3 10 2
5 1 6 8 5 6 8 1 8 5 7 6 4 1 2 7 2 9 5 3
8 2 3 2 9 9 1 1 5 7 8 5 6 3 8 5 4 10 6 9
5 1 10 10 5 1 4 3 2 3 6 9 10 2 6 3 1 2 8 6
1 8 7 8 5 3 7 2 4 1 8 9 10 10 5 1 3 6 5 8
3 3 8 8 2 7 1 6 9 8 2 10 3 7 9 2 1 9 7 7
3 1 9 6 8 2 6 4 6 3 7 10 9 6 1 10 7 5 3 10
1 6 5 4 3 2 4 4 1 5 5 10 6 2 1 1 1 5 6 3
8 10 8 10 9 7 7 7 8 4 8 1 3 5 8 1 8 4 4 6
4 7 2 4 9 1 8 5 3 3 5 10 1 4 6 3 3 8 2 2
The Sample: 1, 5, 8, 7, 4, 1, 6, 6
mean = 4.75
The Population

Parametric or Non-parametric?
•Parametric tests are restricted to data that:
1) show a normal distribution
2) * are independent of one another
3) * are on the same continuous scale of measurement
•Non-parametric tests are used on data that:
1) show an other-than normal distribution
2) are dependent or conditional on one another
3) in general, do not have a continuous scale of
measurement
e.g., the length and weight of something –> parametric
vs.
did the bacteria grow or not grow –> non-parametric

The First Question
After examining your data, ask: does what you're testing
seem to be a question of relatedness or a question of
difference?
If relatedness (between your control and your experimental
samples or between you dependent and independent variable),
you will be using tests for correlation (positive or negative)
or regression.
If difference (your control differs from your experimental),
you will be testing for independence between distributions,
means or variances. Different tests will be employed if
your data show parametric or non-parametric properties.
See Flow Chart on page 50 of HBI.

Tests for Differences
• Between Means
- t-Test - P
- ANOVA - P
- Friedman Test
- Kruskal-Wallis Test
- Sign Test
- Rank Sum Test
• Between Distributions
- Chi-square for goodness of fit
- Chi-square for independence
• Between Variances
- F-Test – P
P – parametric tests

Differences Between Means
Asks whether samples come from populations with
different means
Null Hypothesis Alternative Hypothesis
A
Y
B CA
Y
B C
There are different tests if you have 2 vs more than 2 samples

Differences Between Means –
Parametric Data
t-Tests compare the means of two parametric samples
E.g. Is there a difference in the mean height of men and
women?
HBI: t-Test
Excel: t-Test (paired and unpaired) – in Tools – Data
Analysis

A researcher compared the height of plants grown in high
and low light levels. Her results are shown below. Use a
T-test to determine whether there is a statistically
significant difference in the heights of the two groups
Low Light High Light
49 45
31 40
43 59
31 58
40 55
44 50
49 46
48 53
33 43

Differences Between Means –
Parametric Data
ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) compares the means of
two or more parametric samples.
E.g. Is there a difference in the mean height of plants
grown under red, green and blue light?
HBI: ANOVA
Excel: ANOVA – check type under Tools – Data Analysis

weight of pigs fed different foods
food 1 food 2 food 3 food 4
60.8 68.7 102.6 87.9
57.0 67.7 102.1 84.2
65.0 74.0 100.2 83.1
58.6 66.3 96.5 85.7
61.7 69.8 90.3
A researcher fed pigs on four different foods. At the end
of a month feeding, he weighed the pigs. Use an ANOVA
test to determine if the different foods resulted in
differences in growth of the pigs.

Aplysia punctata – the sea hare

Differences Between Means – Non-
Parametric Data
The Sign Test compares the means of two “paired”,
non-parametric samples
E.g. Is there a difference in the gill withdrawal response of
Aplysia in night versus day? Each subject has been tested
once at night and once during the day –> paired data.
HBI: Sign Test
Excel: N/A
Subject
Night
Response
Day
Response
1 2 5
2 1 3
3 2 2

The Friedman Test is like the Sign test, (compares the
means of “paired”, non-parametric samples) for more
than two samples.
Aplysia between morning, afternoon and evening? Each
subject has been tested once during each time period –>
paired data
HBI: Friedman Test
Excel: N/A
Subject
Morning
Response
Afternoon
Response
Evening.
Response
1 4 3 2
2 5 2 1
3 3 4 3
Parametric Data

The Rank Sum test compares the means of two non-
parametric samples
once, either during the night or during the day –> unpaired
data.
HBI: Rank Sum
Excel: N/A
Subject
Night
Response
Day
Response
1 5
2 1
3 2
4 3
5 4
6 1
7 5
Parametric Data

The Kruskal-Wallis Test compares the means of more
than two non-parametric, non-paired samples
once, either during the morning, afternoon or evening –>
unpaired data.
HBI: Kruskal-Wallis Test
Excel: N/A
Parametric Data
Subject
Morning
Response
Afternoon
Response
Evening.
Response
1 4
2 5
3 4
4 3
5 2
6 3

Chi square tests compare observed frequency
distributions, either to theoretical expectations or to other
observed frequency distributions.
Differences Between Distributions

E.g. The F2 generation of a cross between a round pea
and a wrinkled pea produced 72 round individuals and 20
wrinkled individuals. Does this differ from the expected 3:1
round:wrinkled ratio of a simple dominant trait?
HBI: Chi-Square One Sample Test (goodness of fit)
Excel: Chitest – under Function Key – Statistical
Smooth
Frequency
Wrinkled
E
E

E.g. 67 out of 100 seeds placed in plain water germinated
while 36 out of 100 seeds placed in “acid rain” water
germinated. Is there a difference in the germination rate?
HBI: Chi-Square Two or More Sample Test (independence)
Excel: Chitest – under Function key - Statistical
Plain Acid Plain
Proportion
Germination Acid
Proportion
Germination
Null Hypothesis
Alternative Hypothesis

Correlations look for relationships between two variables
which may not be functionally related. The variables may
be ordinal, interval, or ratio scale data. Remember,
correlation does not prove causation; thus there may not
be a cause and effect relationship between the variables.
E.g. Do species of birds with longer wings also have
longer necks?
HBI: Spearman’s Rank Correlation (NP)
Excel: Correlation (P)
Correlation

Question – is there a relationship between students aptitude
for mathemathics and for biology?
Student Math score Math Rank Biol. score Biology rank
1 57 3 83 7
2 45 1 37 1
3 72 7 41 2
4 78 8 84 8
5 53 2 56 3
6 63 5 85 9
7 86 9 77 6
8 98 10 87 10
9 59 4 70 5
10 71 6 59 4

Regressions look for functional relationships between two
continuous variables. A regression assumes that a
change in X causes a change in Y.
E.g. Does an increase in light intensity cause an increase
in plant growth?
HBI: Regression Analysis (P)
Excel: Regression (P)
Regression

Correlation & Regression
Looks for relationships between two continuous variables
Null Hypothesis Alternative Hypothesis
X
Y
X
Y

Is there a relationship between wing length and
tail length in songbirds?
wing length cm tail length cm
10.4 7.4
10.8 7.6
11.1 7.9
10.2 7.2
10.3 7.4
10.2 7.1
10.7 7.4
10.5 7.2
10.8 7.8
11.2 7.7
10.6 7.8
11.4 8.3

Is there a relationship between age and systolic
blood pressure?
Age (yr) systolic blood pressure
mm hg
30 108
30 110
30 106
40 125
40 120
40 118
40 119
50 132
50 137
50 134
60 148
60 151
60 146
60 147
60 144
70 162
70 156
70 164
70 158
70 159

Parametric and non parametric test

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