Random denominators and the analysis of ratio data |
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Authors: | Liermann Martin Steel Ashley Rosing Michael Guttorp Peter |
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Institution: | (1) Watershed Program, NW Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Blvd. East, Seattle, WA, 98112;(2) Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, USA;(3) National Research Center for Statistics and the Environment, University of Washington, Box 354323, Seattle, WA, 98195 |
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Abstract: | Ratio data, observations in which one random value is divided by another random value, present unique analytical challenges. The best statistical technique varies depending on the unit on which the inference is based. We present three environmental case studies where ratios are used to compare two groups, and we provide three parametric models from which to simulate ratio data. The models describe situations in which (1) the numerator variance and mean are proportional to the denominator, (2) the numerator mean is proportional to the denominator but its variance is proportional to a quadratic function of the denominator and (3) the numerator and denominator are independent. We compared standard approaches for drawing inference about differences between two distributions of ratios: t-tests, t-tests with transformations, permutation tests, the Wilcoxon rank test, and ANCOVA-based tests. Comparisons between tests were based both on achieving the specified alpha-level and on statistical power. The tests performed comparably with a few notable exceptions. We developed simple guidelines for choosing a test based on the unit of inference and relationship between the numerator and denominator. |
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Keywords: | ANCOVA catch per-unit effort fish density indices per-capita per-unit randomization tests t-tests waste composition |
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