Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T11:04:51.649Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

On the validity of Fisher's z test when applied to an actual example of non-normal data. (With five text-figures.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

T. Eden
Affiliation:
(Tea Research Institute of Ceylon)
F. Yates
Affiliation:
(Statistical Department, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden.)

Summary

1. Previous work on the validity of the t and z tests on non-normal distributions is described. The question as to whether these tests, which are all on small samples from theoretical distributions, are really apposite is discussed.

2. The necessity of making a practical test with actual data which shall comply with the usual conditions obtaining in agricultural experiments is urged.

3. A practical test has been made on a skew distribution obtained from the observation of 256 height measurements on wheat. The distribution of the values of R. A. Fisher's z from a thousand random samples has been obtained and found to agree satisfactorily with the theoretical distribution.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1933

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

(1), Anon. Nature (1929), 123, 866.Google Scholar
(2)Baker, G. A.Ann. Mathematical Statistics (1932), 3, 1.Google Scholar
(3)Clapham, A. R.J. Agric. Sci. (1931), 21, 366.Google Scholar
(4)Fisher, R. A.Statistical Methods. 4th edition. Edinburgh (1932).Google Scholar
(5)Fisher, R. A.Nature (1929), 124, 266.Google Scholar
(6)Fisher, R. A., Immer, F. R. and Tedin, O.Genetics (1932), 17, 107.Google Scholar
(7)Maskell, E. J.Tropical Agriculture (1928), 5, 306.Google Scholar
(8)Pearson, E. S.Biometrika (1929), 21, 259.Google Scholar
(9)Pearson, E. S.Nature (1929), 124, 615.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(10)Pearson, E. S.Biometrika (1931), 23, 114.Google Scholar
(11)Rider, P. R.Ann. Mathematical Statistics (1931), 2, 48.Google Scholar
(12)Shewhart, W. A. and Winters, F. W.J. Am. Statistical Ass. (1928), 23, 144.Google Scholar
(13)Student”. Biometrika (1908), 6, 1.Google Scholar
(14)StudentNature (1929), 124, 93.Google Scholar
(15)Tippett, L. H. C.Tracts for Computers, xv. Cambridge (1927).Google Scholar