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What is it?
- a technique that tests if there is a significant difference between the medians of two sets
of data
- it tells us if the differences between data sets are significant or whether they are due to
chance
- it is non parametric (it assumes data is not normally distributed)
- however, it does assume that there is a similar dispersion of both sets of data (you can
check this on a dispersion graph)
Examples:
Is there a significant difference between pebble sizes at an upstream and a downstream site?
Is there a significant difference in traffic flows before and after the new Tesco store was built?
Comparing differences in biodiversity in 2 ecosystems.
Weaknesses
Rank
Homes in S W London
Rank
Rank (rx)
Homes in S W
London
Rank (ry)
12
5.5
8.5
3.5
8.5
8.5
5.5
1.5
12
3.5
8.5
1.5
12
Total
rx = 67
ry =24
Uy = NxNy +
Nx(Nx + 1)
- rx
2
Ny(Ny + 1)
2
The number
in the
sample
- ry
The sum of
the ranks for
sample x
Nx(Nx + 1)
2
- rx
Uy = NxNy + Ny(Ny + 1) - r
y
2
Uy =
Size of smallest
sample (n1)
and accept H1
Smallest U value = 3