R: Rank Score k-Sample Tests

qn.test {kSamples} | R Documentation

## Rank Score k-Sample Tests

### Description

This function uses the QN criterion (Kruskal-Wallis, van der Waerden scores, normal scores) to test the hypothesis that k independent samples arise from a common unspecified distribution.

### Usage

    qn.test(..., data = NULL, test = c("KW", "vdW", "NS"),
    	method = c("asymptotic", "simulated", "exact"),
    	dist = FALSE, Nsim = 10000)

### Arguments

`...` | Either several sample vectors, say x_1, …, x_k, with x_i containing n_i sample values. n_i > 4 is recommended for reasonable asymptotic P-value calculation. The pooled sample size is denoted by N=n_1+…+n_k, or a list of such sample vectors, or a formula y ~ g, where y contains the pooled sample values and g (same length as y) is a factor with levels identifying the samples to which the elements of y belong.
`data` | = an optional data frame providing the variables in formula y ~ g.
`test` | = `c("KW", "vdW", "NS")`, where `"KW"` uses scores `1:N` (Kruskal-Wallis test) `"vdW"` uses van der Waerden scores, `qnorm( (1:N) / (N+1) )` `"NS"` uses normal scores, i.e., expected standard normal order statistics, invoking function `normOrder` of `package SuppDists (>=1.1-9.4)`
`method` | = `c("asymptotic","simulated","exact")`, where `"asymptotic"` uses only an asymptotic chi-square approximation with `k-1` degrees of freedom to approximate the P-value. This calculation is always done. `"simulated"` uses `Nsim` simulated QN statistics based on random splits of the pooled samples into samples of sizes n_1, …, n_k, to estimate the P-value. `"exact"` uses full enumeration of all sample splits with resulting QN statistics to obtain the exact P-value. It is used only when `Nsim` is at least as large as the number N!/(n_1!… n_k!) of full enumerations. Otherwise, `method` reverts to `"simulated"` using the given `Nsim`. It also reverts to `"simulated"` when ncomb > 1e8 and `dist = TRUE`.
`dist` | `FALSE` (default) or `TRUE`. If `TRUE`, the simulated or fully enumerated null distribution vector `null.dist` is returned for the QN test statistic. Otherwise, `NULL` is returned. When `dist = TRUE` then `Nsim <- min(Nsim, 1e8)`, to limit object size.
`Nsim` | `= 10000` (default), number of simulation sample splits to use. It is only used when `method = "simulated"`, or when `method = "exact"` reverts to `method =` `"simulated"`, as previously explained.

### Details

The QN criterion based on rank scores v_1,…,v_N is

QN=\frac{1}{s_v^2}≤ft(∑_{i=1}^k \frac{(S_{iN}-n_i \bar{v}_{N})^2}{n_i}\right)

where S_{iN} is the sum of rank scores for the i-th sample and \bar{v}_N and s_v^2 are sample mean and sample variance (denominator N-1) of all scores.

The statistic QN is used to test the hypothesis that the samples all come from the same but unspecified continuous distribution function F(x). QN is always adjusted for ties by averaging the scores of tied observations.

Conditions for the asymptotic approximation (chi-square with k-1 degrees of freedom) can be found in Lehmann, E.L. (2006), Appendix Corollary 10, or in Hajek, Sidak, and Sen (1999), Ch. 6, problems 13 and 14.

For small sample sizes exact null distribution calculations are possible (with or without ties), based on a recursively extended version of Algorithm C (Chase's sequence) in Knuth (2011), which allows the enumeration of all possible splits of the pooled data into samples of sizes of n_1, …, n_k, as appropriate under treatment randomization. This is done in C, as is the simulation.

NA values are removed and the user is alerted with the total NA count. It is up to the user to judge whether the removal of NA's is appropriate.

The continuity assumption can be dispensed with, if we deal with independent random samples from any common distribution, or if randomization was used in allocating subjects to samples or treatments, and if the asymptotic, simulated or exact P-values are viewed conditionally, given the tie pattern in the pooled sample. Under such randomization any conclusions are valid only with respect to the subjects that were randomly allocated to their respective treatment samples.

### Value

A list of class `kSamples` with components

`test.name` | `"Kruskal-Wallis"`, `"van der Waerden scores"`, or `"normal scores"`
`k` | number of samples being compared
`ns` | vector (n_1,…,n_k) of the k sample sizes
`N` | size of the pooled samples = n_1+…+n_k
`n.ties` | number of ties in the pooled sample
`qn` | 2 (or 3) vector containing the observed QN, its asymptotic P-value, (its simulated or exact P-value)
`warning` | logical indicator, `warning = TRUE` when at least one n_i < 5
`null.dist` | simulated or enumerated null distribution of the test statistic. It is `NULL` when `dist = FALSE` or when `method = "asymptotic"`.
`method` | the `method` used.
`Nsim` | the number of simulations used.

### warning

`method = "exact"` should only be used with caution. Computation time is proportional to the number of enumerations. Experiment with `system.time` and trial values for `Nsim` to get a sense of the required computing time. In most cases `dist = TRUE` should not be used, i.e., when the returned distribution objects become too large for R's work space.

### References

Hajek, J., Sidak, Z., and Sen, P.K. (1999), Theory of Rank Tests (Second Edition), Academic Press.

Knuth, D.E. (2011), The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 4A Combinatorial Algorithms Part 1, Addison-Wesley

Kruskal, W.H. (1952), A Nonparametric Test for the Several Sample Problem, The Annals of Mathematical Statistics, Vol 23, No. 4, 525-540

Kruskal, W.H. and Wallis, W.A. (1952), Use of Ranks in One-Criterion Variance Analysis, Journal of the American Statistical Association, Vol 47, No. 260, 583–621.

Lehmann, E.L. (2006), Nonparametrics, Statistical Methods Based on Ranks, Revised First Edition, Springer Verlag.

### See Also

`qn.test.combined`

### Examples

    u1 <- c(1.0066, -0.9587,  0.3462, -0.2653, -1.3872)
    u2 <- c(0.1005, 0.2252, 0.4810, 0.6992, 1.9289)
    u3 <- c(-0.7019, -0.4083, -0.9936, -0.5439, -0.3921)
    yy <- c(u1, u2, u3)
    gy <- as.factor(c(rep(1,5), rep(2,5), rep(3,5)))
    set.seed(2627)
    qn.test(u1, u2, u3, test="KW", method = "simulated",
      dist = FALSE, Nsim = 1000)
    # or with same seed
    # qn.test(list(u1, u2, u3),test = "KW", method = "simulated",
    #  dist = FALSE, Nsim = 1000)
    # or with same seed
    # qn.test(yy ~ gy, test = "KW", method = "simulated",
    #  dist = FALSE, Nsim = 1000)

[Package kSamples version 1.2-9 Index]