PARAMETRIC AND NONPARAMETRIC STATISTICAL TESTS

Theparametric nonparametric statistical tests are commonly employed in behavioural

researches. Aparametric statistical test)is one which specifies certain conditions about the
parameterofthe popullaation from which asample is taken. Such statistical tests are considered to
bemore powerful than nonparametric statistical tests and should be used if their basic
requirements or assumptions are met, These assumptions are based upon the nature of the
population distribution as well as upon the type of measurement scales used in quantiying the
enumerated as follows:
iala. The asSumptionsmay beRoom Somp
1., The observations must be independent. In other words, the selection of one case must
not be dependent upon the selection of any other case.
The obsevations must be drawn from anormally distributed population.
2 The samples drawn [Link] must have equal variances and this condition is
more important if the s0ze of the sample is particularly smal. When the different samples
taken from the same population haveequal or nearly egual variances, this condition is
known as homogeneityof variance. Statistically speaking, by homogeneity of variance is
meant that there should not be a significant difference among the variances of
diferent samples.
scales. Nominal measures (that is,
4. The variables must be expressed in interval or ratio parametric
frequency Counts)and ordinal measures(that is, rankings) donot qualify for a
statistical test.
5. The variable under studyshould be continuous.
The examples of a parametric test are the ztest, ttest and Ftest.
statistical test is one which does not specify any conditions about the
Anonparametric these statistical tests do not
which the sample is drawn. Since
parameter ofthe population trom form of the distribution of the population,
make anyspecified and precise assumption about the
known as distribution-free statistics. The nonparametric statistics do not specify any
these are also
 Sciences
Reseach Methods in Bebavioural
602 Tests, Measurements and

parametric statistical tests although certain assumptions

should be are
rigid conditions like
statistical test, the variables under study
as ociated yin
them. For a nonparametric

we find in the case of a

Chi-square test, the
parametric
Mann-Whitney U
But these assumptions are neither
observations should [Link]
test,
be
test. The examples of
rigid
continuoteulassbo;rnaed
nor so e the
nonparametric
Kendall's tay, Kendall's coefficient of concordanca
used only in the following cases:
are the
statistical testshould
etc. Anonparametric the population from which asample is
distribution of
I. The shape of the
known to be a normal one.
guantified on the basis of nominal measures (or
is drawn ng
been
2. The variables have
3. counts)
The variables have been quantified onthe basis of ordinal measures (or ranking).
Because nonparametricstatisticaltests are based upon frequency counts or rankings rathe
frequeny
less likely to reject a nul
they are less precise, and are
than on the

tests
measured

are morecannot
assumptions be
values,
when it is false. That is why,
met.
a nonparametric
Some
statisticaltest is used only when
statisticians, however, argue that nonparametric
the
powerful and have more merits than parametric tests because their validity is a,
|hypapsotraatthmiseüesctaicl
based upon the assumptions about the population distribution. They further argue that
parametric assumptions are oftenignored by theresearchers and there are evidences in certain
parametric statistical tests like thettest and Ftest that violation of assumptions, particularlywhen
asample islarge, does not afect the power of the statisticaltests (Edward 1968; Winer 1971). Na,
onlythis, for some population distributions nonparametric statistical ttests are superior npower
to parametric statistical tests (Whitney 1948).
Table 23.1 presents a summary of the levels of quantitative description and types of
measurement.
statistical analysis appropriate for each level of
Table 23.1: Levels of quantitative description of parametric and nonparametric data
Level Scale Process Data Important appropriate statistics
1. Nominal scale Classified and Mode, chi-square test and sign test
Jcounted
2 Ordinalscale Rank in order Nonparametric Median, Q, Stanine, Spearman's
iho, Kendall tau, Mann-Whitney
|Utest,Wilcoxos Sign Rank test,
Kendall's partíal rank order
correlation
3. |Interval scale Equal Intervals, Parametric Mean, Standard deviation,
No true zero |Pearson , ttest, ANOVA,
point ANCOVA, Factoranalysis
4. Ratio scale Equal intervals,
True zero, Ratio
relationship
Students should keep in mind the fundamental diferences between parametric and
nonparametric tests.
" Parametric tests rest upon some specific assumptionsaboutpopulation parametricwhee
nonparametric tests don't make such explicit assumptions.
"In parametric test, the measure of central tendency is mean whereas in nonparametricted
th¹ measure ofcentral tendency is median.
 "In [Link],
Caying Out Stattstkal Analyes 603
nonparametrictest, there
is complete information about the
there is no
The parametric
" applicable tests are 0nformatto ion about lhe populatiopopul
applicable n. ation whereas in the
i both to variables and : variables only
attrib utes. whereas the nonpatarnetric tests are
parametrictest, the
" In measurement of
in nonparametric test the variables are variables done on intervaLot tatio
is
measured on level whereas
Inparametric test, thetest statistic is based upon the nominal ordinal level.
or
test, the test statistic is arbitrary. distribution whereas in nonpatametric
However, itshould be made clear that many
ANCOVA, Pearson's rare considered still appropriate parametric statistics such as t est, ANOVA,
violated. This robustness has been even when the assurnçtion of
has been demonstrated especially normality
for t test, ANOVA,
ANCOVA by researcherslike Mandeville (1972), and Glass, Packham and Sanders (1972), and
onlythis, these statistical procedures which are suited for interval data and Not
data. as well as to dichotomous data ratio data, can be
appliedto ordinal (such as pass-lail, male-fermale, etc.)(est
&Khan 2006).
Rradley (1968) has enumerated several advantages and disadvantages of
statisticaltestssin comparison to parametric statistical tests. Some of his nonparametric
asfollows:
important advantages are
1 Simplicity and facilitation in derivation: Most of the
nonparametric statistics can be
derived by using simple computational formulas. This advantage does not lie with most of the
narametric statistics, the derivation of which requires an advanced knowledge of mathematics.
2. Wider scope of application: Since nonparametric statistics as compared to parametric
statistics are based upon fewer and less rigid and elaborate assumptions regarding the fon of
population distribution, they can be easily applied to much wider situations.
3. Speed of application: When the sample size is small, calculation of nonparametric
statistics is faster than parametric statistics.
4. Susceptibility to violation of assumptions: In case of nonparametric statistics,
assumptions are fewer,and less elaborate than in the case of parametric statistics. Therefore,
assumptions of nonparametric statistics are less susceptible to violation. Not only this, these
violations are easier to check and can be readily and economically taken care of with the
nonparametric statistics.
5. Type of measurement required: Nonparametric statistics require
measurement based
upon a nominal scale and ordinal scale, whereas parametric associated statistics require measurement
based upon th¹ interval scale and/or ratio scale. As treatments with either nominal
interval scale or ratio scale,
scale or ordinal scale are [Link] treatments associated with either nonparametric statistics.
the parametric statistics have a better case for applicability than the
6. mpact ofsample size; When sample size is 10 or less than 10, nonparametric statistics
parametric statistics. If the assumptions of
are easier, quicker and more efficient than thecases, the result is likely to get badly affected.
parametriC statistics are violated for such small
Iherefore, for this sample size, nonparametric sample statistics are always superior to the parametric
Statistics. The reader should note that as the size increases, nonparametric statistics
efficient than the parametric statistics.
Decome time-consuming, labour-intensive and less
7. Statistical efficiency:Nonparametric tests are often more convenient than the parametric
assumptions of nonparametric statistics but not of
ests, If the data is such that it meets all to parametric
parametic statistics then nonparametric statistics have statistical efficiency equalwhich fulfils all
both parametric and nonparametric statistics are applied to the data
Siatistics. f statistics become more efficient with a small
aSumptions of parametrictests, the distribution-freeas the sample size increases.
Sample size but they become less and less efficient
 604 Tests, Measumont and Rovan b Mthovde n ebntoual Se tenee

Despite the above advantages (which, in general, hint towards disatvantages o

statistics),certain disadvantages are associated with them. The mainones are as gjven hel
1. According to Moses (1952), the nonparametic statistics have lowetstatistical efficiene
than parametric statistics when sample size is large, preferably above 30.
2. ( all assumptions of parametric statistics are fulfilled, Siegel (1956) ard
Castellan (198S) consider the use ofnonparametric statistics as simply 'wasteful of data. Sieget&
3. t is also said that the probability tables for testing the significance of
difficult1o locate and interpret. Cttas les/t-tables lz-tabes.
nonparametie
Statistics. are widely scattered in different publications which, fora behavioural sciertig
Where both parametricstatistics and nonparametric statistics are available, the followin
guidelines should be kept in view for selecting any one of the two:
(0 possible and the situation permits, parametricstatistics shouldbe used because thes
take the amount of difference between cases into account rather than simply the crder of
the cases.
(ii) The central limit theorem clearly ensuresthat parametric statistics will prove bereficial
even for non-normal distributions.
(iüi) tf th¹ data are available from non-normalLdistribution,the same can be transformed so
that parametric statisticaltests can be used (Hollander et al. 2014)
(iv) For larger samples (N>30), parametrictests can be safely used.
(v) ifthe sample size is very small, there is no alternative to using anonparametric statistic.
Now, we shalldiscuss some important parametric and nonparametric statistics comonly
used in behavioural researches,