The Journal of Agricultural Science

Table of Contents - 1933 - Volume 23, Issue 01  

Research Article

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

T. Edena1 and F. Yatesa2

a1 (Tea Research Institute of Ceylon)

a2 (Statistical Department, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden.)

Abstract

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.

(Received August 06 1932)

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