EXERCISE 4.

2
WILCOXON MATCHED PAIRS SIGNED RANK TEST

Name: Tudon, Farhan A. .

Course & Section: 2-BSN B Subject: Applied Statistics

1. A doctor wants to test whether acupuncture might reduce back pain. To investigate this, she recruits 15
participants. At the beginning of the study, participants were asked to rate their back pain on a scale of 1 to 10,
with 10 indicating the greatest level of pain. After 4 weeks of acupuncture, the participants were asked again to
indicate their level of back pain on a scale of 1 to 10. The results of the study are shown below. Is there evidence
to suggest that acupuncture reduces back pain at the 𝛼 = 0.05 level of significance?

Before After
Runner 1 10 9
Runner 2 8 8
Runner 3 9 7
Runner 4 7 6
Runner 5 7 6
Runner 6 10 8
Runner 7 5 6
Runner 8 8 7
Runner 9 7 9
Runner 10 6 3
Runner 11 6 2
Runner 12 8 8
Runner 13 6 6
Runner 14 8 5
Runner 15 7 2
Runner 16 9 4
Runner 17 9 8
Runner 18 8 10
Runner 19 7 4
Runner 20 10 7
Runner 21 5 4
Runner 22 10 4
Runner 23 9 8
Runner 24 10 9
Runner 25 9 10

Solution. Let 𝜃D = Score After – Score Before

1. State the Null and Alternative Hypotheses

Null hypothesis: H0: 𝜃D = 0.
There is no enough evidence to suggest that acupuncture reduces back pain.

Alternative hypothesis: H0: 𝜃D > 0.

There is an enough evidence to suggest that acupuncture reduces back pain.

2. Now compute the absolute value of the difference |D| and rank them, as shown in the following table.

Before After D= 𝑋2 − 𝑋1 Rank of |D| Signed rank of |D|

Runner 1 10 9 -1 5.5 -5.5
Runner 2 8 8 0 n/a n/a
Runner 3 9 7 2 12.5 12.5
Runner 4 7 6 1 5.5 5.5
Runner 5 7 6 1 5.5 5.5
Runner 6 10 8 2 12.5 12.5
Runner 7 5 6 -1 5.5 -5.5
Runner 8 8 7 1 5.5 5.5
 Runner 9 7 9 -2 12.5 -12.5
Runner 10 6 3 3 16.5 16.5
Runner 11 6 2 4 19 19
Runner 12 8 8 0 n/a n/a
Runner 13 6 6 0 n/a n/a
Runner 14 8 5 3 16.5 16.5
Runner 15 7 2 5 20.5 20.5
Runner 16 9 4 5 20.5 20.5
Runner 17 9 8 1 5.5 5.5
Runner 18 8 10 -2 12.5 -12.5
Runner 19 7 4 3 16.5 16.5
Runner 20 10 7 3 16.5 16.5
Runner 21 5 4 1 5.5 5.5
Runner 22 10 4 6 22 22
Runner 23 9 8 1 5.5 5.5
Runner 24 10 9 1 5.5 5.5
Runner 25 9 10 -1 5.5 -5.5

Remarks:
• If |D| = 0, then |D| is not ranked. In other words, the corresponding participant is eliminated from
the analysis of the study.
• If there are tied scores, the average rank is given.

3. Next, compute the sum of all positive signed ranks ∑R+ and the sum of all negative signed ranks ∑R–.
So we have:

W+= ∑ 𝑅+
W+= 5.5+5.5+5.5+5.5+5.5+5.5+5.5+5.5+12.5+12.5+16.5+16.5+16.5+16.5+19+20.5+20.5+22 = 217

𝑊 − = ∑ 𝑅−
𝑊 − = 5.5+5.5+12.5+12.5 = 36

The absolute value of the smaller of the two values W+ and 𝑊 − is designated as the Wilcoxon T test
statistic T. Therefore, 𝑊 − =36 < W+= 217. So Tmin = 36.

4. Rejection Region
To reject the null hypothesis, the computed T must be less than or equal to the tabled critical Wilcoxon
T value at the prescribed level of significance. In this case, the appropriate test is directional (one-tailed)
with 𝛼 = 0.05. Also, n = 22 because one data value was dropped due to a zero |D| score. From the table,
the critical value is T0.05 = 75.

5. Decision: Since the computed Tmin = 36 < 𝑇0.05 = 75, we reject the null hypothesis at α = 0.05

6. Conclusion: At α = 0.05, the result is significant. Therefore, there is an enough evidence to suggest
that acupuncture reduces back pain.