THE FRIEDMAN F r TEST FOR RANDOMIZED BLOCK DESIGN

The Friedman F r test is a nonparametric test used for comparing the distributions of measurements for k
treatments laid out in b blocks using randomized block design. The procedure for conducting the test is similar to that
used for the Kruskal-Wallis H test. When either the number of k of treatments or the number of b of blocks is larger
than five, sampling distribution of F r test can be approximated by a chi-square distribution with (k-1))df. The formula
of the F r test is;
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F r = bk (k +1)
¿
∑T 2i - 3b (k+1)
¿

Fr = the Friedman test

b = the number of blocks
k = the number of treatments
T i = rank sum for treatment i
i = =1,2,…..k

Example 1 In a study of the probability of antibiotics in children, 5 samples healthy children were used as
subjects to assess their reaction to the taste of four antibiotics. The children’s response was measured on a 10-
centimeter visual analog scale incorporating the use of faces, from sad (low score) to happy (high score). The minimum
data were recorded:

Antibiotics

Child 1 2 3 4
1 5.8 2.5 6.7 6.2
2 9.0 9.0 6.6 9.5
3 5.0 2.6 3.5 6.6
4 7.9 9.4 5.3 8.4
5 3.9 7.5 2.5 2.5

Solving by the Stepwise Method:

Problem: Is there a significant difference in the reaction of 5 children on the 4 different antibiotics?
I. Hypotheses:
H 0: There is no significant difference in the reaction of 5 children on the 4 different antibiotics.
Ha: There is a significant difference in the reaction of 5 children on the 4 different antibiotics

II. Level of Significance:

α = .05
df = k-1
= 4-1
=3
2
x .05 = 7.815
IV-Test Statistic
Computation:

Antibiotics

Child 1 2 3 4

1 5.8 (2) 2.5 (1) 6.7 (4) 6.2 (3)

2 9.0 (2.5) 9.0 (2.5) 6.6 (1) 9.5 (4)

3 5.0 (3) 2.6 (1) 3.5 (2) 6.6 (4)

4 7.9 (2) 9.4 (4) 5.3 (1) 8.4 (3)

5 3.9 (3) 7.5 (4) 2.5 (1.5) 2.5 (1.5)

Rank Sum T 1 = 12.5 T 2 = 12.5 T 3 = 9.5 T 4 = 15.5

Rank the four reactions (treatment) of every (block) from the lowest value to the highest value. So child 1, the
lowest value is 2.5 rank 1, 5.8 rank 2, 6.2 rank 3, and 6.7 rank 4. For child 2, 6.6 is rank 1, followed by two 9s will be
rank 2.5 and 9.5 is rank 4. The same will be done for child 3,4, and 5. Get the sum of ranks for the four treatments T 1 =
12.5, T 2 = 12.5, T 3 = 9.5, and T 4 = 15.5. Then apply the formula.

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Fr =
bk (k +1)
∑T 2i - 3b (k + 1)
12
= ( 5 )( 4 ) ( 4 +1 ) [ 12.52 + 12.52 +9.5 2+15.5 2 ] - 3 ( 5 ) ( 5 )
12
= 100 [ 156.25+156.25+90.25+240.25 ] - 75
= ( . 12 )( 643 ) - 75
F r = 2.16

Decision Rule: If the value of F r is greater than the X 2 tabular value, reject H 0.

V. Decision &Conclusion: Since the F r value of 2.16 is lesser than the X 2 tabular value of 7.815
at .05 level of significance with 3 df, the null hypothesis of no significant difference in the reaction of 5
children on the 4 different antibiotics was accepted.