The F test is used to test the null hypothesis that the two population variances corresponding to the two samples are equal.
Assumptions:
- Within each sample, the values are independent, and identically normally distributed (same mean and variance).
- The two samples are independent of each other.
Guidance:
- Ways to detect before performing the F test whether your data violate any assumptions.
- Ways to examine F test results to detect assumption violations.
- Possible alternatives if your data or F test results indicate assumption violations.
To properly analyze and interpret results of the F test, you should be familiar with the following terms and concepts:
F Test:
A test based on a statistic that (under appropriate null hypothesis) has an F distribution; for example:
F Test for the Null Hypothesisσ1 = σ2 (Normal Populations):
A test of the null hypothesis σ1 = σ2 based on the statistic F=s21/s22 (place the largest value in the numerator) depending on whether the alternative hypothesis is σ1 < σ2, σ1 > σ2, or σ1 ≠ σ2.
In the first case the null hypothesis is rejected for F > Fα,n2-1,n1-1, in the second case it is rejected for F > Fα,n1-1,n2-1, and in the third case it is rejected for F > Fα,v1,v2 where v1 and v2 equal n2 - 1 and n1 - 1 when s22> s21 and n1 - 1 and n2 - 1 when s21 > s22
If you are not familiar with these terms and concepts, you are advised to consult with a statistician. Failure to understand and properly apply F test may result in drawing erroneous conclusions from your data. Additionally, you may want to consult the following references:
- Brownlee, K. A. 1965. Statistical Theory and Methodology in Science and Engineering. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
- Conover, W. J. 1980. Practical Nonparametric Statistics. 2nd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
- Daniel, Wayne W. 1978. Applied Nonparametric Statistics. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
- Daniel, Wayne W. 1995. Biostatistics. 6th ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
- Hollander, M. and Wolfe, D. A. 1973. Nonparametric Statistical Methods. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
- Miller, Rupert G. Jr. 1996. Beyond ANOVA, Basics of Applied Statistics. 2nd. ed. London: Chapman & Hall.
- Rosner, Bernard. 1995. Fundamentals of Biostatistics. 4th ed. Belmont, California: Duxbury Press.
- Sokal, Robert R. and Rohlf, F. James. 1995. Biometry. 3rd. ed. New York: W. H. Freeman and Co.
- Zar, Jerrold H. 1996. Biostatistical Analysis. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
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