This dissertation describes the effect that the construction of frequency tables has on basic statistics computed from those frequency tables. It is directly applicable only to normally distributed data summarized by Sturges' Rule. The purpose of this research was to identify factors tending to bias sample statistics when data are summarized, and thus to allow researchers to avoid such bias. The methodology employed was a large scale simulation where 1000 replications of samples of size n = 2 ᵏ⁻¹ for 2 to 12 were drawn from a normally distributed population with a mean of zero and a standard deviation of one. A FORTRAN IV source listing is included. The report concludes that researchers should avoid the use of statistics computed from frequency tables in cases where raw data are available. Where the use of such statistics is unavoidable, the researchers can eliminate their bias by the use of empirical correction factors provided in the paper. Further research is suggested to determine the effect of summarization of data drawn from various non-normal distributions.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc331595 |
Date | 05 1900 |
Creators | Scott, James P. |
Contributors | Spalding, John Barney, Starling, Jack, Bimmerle, Charles F. |
Publisher | North Texas State University |
Source Sets | University of North Texas |
Language | English |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
Format | viii, 107 leaves : ill., Text |
Rights | Public, Scott, James P., Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. |
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