Skip to main content
Log in

Identifying common normal distributions

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
TEST Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Consider a one-way layout where random samples of data are available from k populations, where the distributions of the data from each population are considered to be completely unknown. This paper discusses a methodology for investigating whether it can be concluded that the k unknown distributions, or any subsets of these distributions, can be taken to be equal to a common normal distribution, and if so it is shown how to identify these common normal distributions. This is accomplished with an exact specified error rate by constructing confidence sets for the parameters of the common normal distributions using Kolmogorov’s (G. Ist. Ital. Attuari 4:83–91, 1933) procedure. The relationship of this methodology to standard tests of normality and to standard procedures for constructing confidence sets for the parameters of a normal distribution are discussed, together with its relationship to functional data analysis and other standard test procedures for data of this kind. Some examples of the implementation of the methodology are provided.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnold BC, Shavelle RM (1998) Joint confidence sets for the mean and variance of a normal distribution. Am Stat 52:133–140

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Delicado P (2007) Functional k-sample problem when data are density functions. Comput Stat 22:391–410

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Ferraty F, Vieu P (2006) Nonparametric functional data analysis: theory and practice. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey J, Marrero O, Norton D (2009) Minimum-area confidence sets for a normal distribution. J Stat Plan Inference 139:1023–1032

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Hayter AJ, Kiatsupaibul S (2013a) Exact inferences for a Weibull model. Qual Eng 25(2):175–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayter AJ, Kiatsupaibul S (2013b) Exact inferences for a Gamma model. Technical Report, University of Denver

  • Hsu JC (1996) Multiple comparisons—theory and methods. Chapman and Hall, London

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Kolmogorov A (1933) Sulla determinazione empirica di una legge di distribuzione. G Ist Ital Attuari 4:83–91

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann EL (1986) Testing statistical hypotheses, 2nd edn. Springer, New York

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Lilliefors H (1967) On the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test for normality with mean and variance unknown. J Am Stat Assoc 62:399–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mante C, Yao AF, Degiovanni C (2007) Principal component analysis of measures, with special emphasis on grain-size curves. Comput Stat Data Anal 51:4969–4983

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Mood AM (1950) Introduction to the theory of statistics. McGraw-Hill, New York

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Ramsay J, Silverman BW (2005) Functional data analysis, 2nd edn. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott WF, Stewart B (2011) Tables for the Lilliefors and modified Cramer–von Mises tests of normality. Commun Stat, Theory Methods 40(4):726–730

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Tamhane AC, Hochberg Y (1987) Multiple comparison procedures. Wiley, New York

    MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

I would like to sincerely thank each of the reviewers for their helpful and insightful comments and suggestions that have resulted in a much improved version of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anthony Hayter.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hayter, A. Identifying common normal distributions. TEST 23, 135–152 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11749-013-0345-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11749-013-0345-3

Keywords

Mathematics Subject Classification (2010)

Navigation