Choosing the Correct Statistical Test (CHS 627: University of Alabama) http://bama.ua.edu/~jleeper/627/choosestat.

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CHS 627: Multivariate Methods in Health Statistics

Choosing the Correct Statistical Test

Number Number Type Type

of of of of
Measure Test(s)
Dependent* Independent** Dependent Independent
Variables Variables Variable(s) Variable(s)
1 continuous
mean one-sample t-test
normal
continuous one-sample
0 not applicable median
non-normal median
(1 population) (none)
Chi Square
categorical proportions goodness-of-fit,
binomial test
2 independent
normal mean
sample t-test
Mann Whitney,
1
non-normal medians Wilcoxon rank
(2 independent 2 categories
sum test
populations)
Chi square test
categorical proportions Fisher's Exact
test
0 normal means paired t-test
(1 population
measured twice) not Wilcoxon signed
non-normal medians
or applicable/ ranks test
1 categorical
(2 matched McNemar,
categorical proportions
populations) Chi-square test
one-way
1 normal means
ANOVA
(3 or more categorical
non-normal medians Kruskal Wallis
populations)
categorical proportions Chi square test
Factorial
normal means
ANOVA
2 or more
(e.g., 2-way non-normal categorical medians Friedman test
ANOVA) log-linear,
categorical proportions
logistic

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Choosing the Correct Statistical Test (CHS 627: University of Alabama) http://bama.ua.edu/~jleeper/627/choosestat.html

regression
0
Repeated
(1 population
normal not applicable means measures
measured
ANOVA
3 or more times)
correlation
normal simple linear
continuous regression
non-parametric
non-normal
1 correlation
logistic
categorical or continuous
regression
categorical
discriminant
continuous
analysis
multiple linear
normal
regression
non-normal continuous
logistic
categorical
regression
Analysis of
2 or more Covariance
normal General Linear
mixed categorical and Models
continuous (regression)
non-normal
logistic
categorical
regression
2 2 or more normal categorical MANOVA
multivariate
2 or more 2 or more normal continuous multiple linear
regression
2 sets of canonical
0 normal not applicable
2 or more correlation
2 or more 0 normal not applicable factor analysis

* outcome
** predictor

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Choosing the Correct Statistical Test (CHS 627: University of Alabama) http://bama.ua.edu/~jleeper/627/choosestat.html

Page editor is Julia Hartman.

Last modified December 1, 2000.

The information in this site is current through August 15, 2000.

Although the authors of this Web site have made every reasonable effort to be factually
accurate, no responsibility is assumed for editorial or clerical errors or error occasioned by
honest mistake. All information contained on this Web site is subject to change by the
appropriate officials of The University of Alabama without prior notice. Material on this Web
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