542 Pages 35 B/W Illustrations
    by Chapman & Hall

    While preserving the clear, accessible style of previous editions, Applied Nonparametric Statistical Methods, Fourth Edition reflects the latest developments in computer-intensive methods that deal with intractable analytical problems and unwieldy data sets.

    Reorganized and with additional material, this edition begins with a brief summary of some relevant general statistical concepts and an introduction to basic ideas of nonparametric or distribution-free methods. Designed experiments, including those with factorial treatment structures, are now the focus of an entire chapter. The text also expands coverage on the analysis of survival data and the bootstrap method. The new final chapter focuses on important modern developments, such as large sample methods and computer-intensive applications.

    Keeping mathematics to a minimum, this text introduces nonparametric methods to undergraduate students who are taking either mainstream statistics courses or statistics courses within other disciplines. By giving the proper attention to data collection and the interpretation of analyses, it provides a full introduction to nonparametric methods.

    PREFACE

    SOME BASIC CONCEPTS
    Basic Statistics
    Populations and Samples
    Hypothesis Testing
    Estimation
    Ethical Issues

    FUNDAMENTALS OF NONPARAMETRIC METHODS
    A Permutation Test
    Binomial Tests
    Order Statistics and Ranks
    Exploring Data
    Efficiency of Nonparametric Procedures
    Computers and Nonparametric Methods
    Further Reading

    LOCATION INFERENCE FOR SINGLE SAMPLES
    Layout of Examples
    Continuous Data Samples
    Inferences about Medians Based on Ranks
    The Sign Test
    Use of Alternative Scores
    Comparing Tests and Robustness
    Fields of Application
    Summary

    OTHER SINGLE-SAMPLE INFERENCES
    Other Data Characteristics
    Matching Samples to Distributions
    Inferences for Dichotomous Data
    Tests Related to the Sign Test
    A Runs Test for Randomness
    Angular Data
    Fields of Application
    Summary

    METHODS FOR PAIRED SAMPLES
    Comparisons in Pairs
    A Less Obvious Use of the Sign Test
    Power and Sample Size
    Fields of Application
    Summary

    METHODS FOR TWO INDEPENDENT SAMPLES
    Centrality Tests and Estimates
    The Median Test
    Normal Scores
    Tests for Equality of Variance
    Tests for a Common Distribution
    Power and Sample Size
    Fields of Application
    Summary

    BASIC TESTS FOR THREE OR MORE SAMPLES
    Comparisons with Parametric Methods
    Centrality Tests for Independent Samples
    The Friedman Quade and Page Tests
    Binary Responses
    Tests for Heterogeneity of Variance
    Some Miscellaneous Considerations
    Fields of Application
    Summary

    ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURED DATA
    Factorial Treatment Structures
    Balanced 2 × 2 Factorial Structures
    The Nature of Interactions
    Alternative Approaches to Interactions
    Cross-Over Experiments
    Specific and Multiple Comparison Tests
    Fields of Application
    Summary
    Exercises

    ANALYSIS OF SURVIVAL DATA
    Special Features of Survival Data
    Modified Wilcoxon Tests
    Savage Scores and the Log-Rank Transformation
    Median Tests for Sequential Data
    Choice of Tests
    Fields of Application
    Summary

    CORRELATION AND CONCORDANCE
    Correlation in Bivariate Data
    Ranked Data for Several Variables
    Agreement
    Fields of Application
    Summary

    BIVARIATE LINEAR REGRESSION
    Fitting Straight Lines
    Fields of Application
    Summary

    CATEGORICAL DATA
    Categories and Counts
    Nominal Attribute Categories
    Ordered Categorical Data
    Goodness-of-fit Tests for Discrete Data
    Extension of McNemar's Test
    Fields of application
    Summary

    ASSOCIATION IN CATEGORICAL DATA
    The Analysis of Association
    Some Models for Contingency Tables
    Combining and Partitioning of Tables
    A Legal Dilemma
    Power
    Fields of Application
    Summary

    ROBUST ESTIMATION
    When Assumptions Break Down
    Outliers and Influence
    The Bootstrap
    M-estimators and Other Robust Estimators
    Fields of Application
    Summary

    MODERN NONPARAMETRICS
    A Change in Emphasis
    Density Estimation
    Regression
    Logistic Regression
    Multivariate Data
    New Methods for Large Data Sets
    Correlations within Clusters
    Summary

    Exercises appear in each chapter.

    APPENDIX 1
    APPENDIX 2
    REFERENCES
    INDEX

    Biography

    Peter Sprent, Nigel C. Smeeton

    … The greatest strength of this book is that it is written at a level that is perfectly understandable by readers with only a course or two of introductory-level statistics. As such, it is appropriate for use as either a textbook for a first course in nonparametric methods for undergraduate statistics majors or as a reference for practitioners in other fields. It is also quite suitable as a supplementary statistics textbook for graduate students … . Key concepts are taught using worked-out examples from a variety of fields. … a worthwhile choice for either an introductory-level textbook or a self-study reference for nonspecialists. The writing is very accessible and not weighted down by any mathematics beyond the grasp of the intended audience. …
    Psychometrika, Vol. 75, No. 3, September 2010

    … this book has an effective organization and covers a wider scope of non-parametric methods than former editions. Therefore, I believe that this book can serve its intended audience.
    Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A, Vol. 173, Issue 1, January 2010

    Most fourth editions look surprisingly similar to the third editions. Applied Nonparametric Statistical Methods is an exception. Sprent and Smeeton have taken an accessible and well-regarded work and expanded, reorganized, and improved on it. … Sprent and Smeeton offer a strong connection with respect to the how and why of the techniques. … The book’s major strength is its prioritization of coverage. The authors take painstaking care to inculcate an understanding of the appropriate use of nonparametric methods, as well as an appreciation for their application over a wide range of fields. The examples are well chosen, and the variety should ensure that every reader finds at least some of the problems interesting. … As a competitor to the texts by Conover (1999), Gibbons and Chakraborti (2004), Higgins (2004), and Wasserman (2006), Applied Nonparametric Statistical Methods more than holds its own. The combination of clear writing and comprehensive coverage make it an excellent introductory text. …
    Technometrics, Vol. 51, No. 2, May 2009

    …The chapters have been substantially reorganized, and new material is provided on methods related to factorial designs and time-to-event data. An entirely new chapter, ‘Modern Nonparametrics,’ closes the text with a variety of topics … the worked examples are thoroughly and meticulously done … constant mention is made of the available software (e.g., StatXact, R, Minitab, SPSS) to conduct specific procedures. … solutions to selected end-of-chapter exercises are annotated and quite helpful. Overall, this is a solid choice for a first course in nonparametric statistics for undergraduates.
    Journal of the American Statistical Association, Vol. 104, No. 487, September 2009

    … expands coverage on the analysis of survival data and the bootstrap method. … the new edition also focuses on some modern developments. The formal testing procedures are illustrated in a nice way with realistic examples leading to final conclusions, comments, and a discussion… The book has a clear style with well-organized material. The book works well as a reference book for users of nonparametric methods in different research areas. It is also a good textbook for undergraduate courses in statistics as well as courses for students majoring in other disciplines.
    —Hannu Oja, International Statistical Review, Vol. 27, No. 1, 2008

    Praise for the Third Edition
    Strengths of this text certainly include its organization and writing style. Applied Nonparametric Statistical Methods provides a very clear exposition of modern nonparametric methods. Many students and practitioners will find it an excellent resource and reference for nonparametric statistics.
    —Technometrics, 2003

    … extremely valuable for statisticians as well as for researchers in applied fields. … This well-written book is highly recommended for those readers who want to get a feeling for the nonparametric methods which they apply when analysing their data.
    Statistics in Medicine, 2004