[R] t test problem?

[Andrew Robinson]

Hi Dimitris,

you are describing a more stringent requirement than the t-test
actually requires.  It's the sampling distribution of the mean that
should be normal, and this condition is addressed by the Central
Limit Theorem.

Whether or not the CLT can be invoked depends on numerous factors,
including the distribution of the sample, and the size of the sample,
neither of which we have any information about. 

Liu, the problem you describe is associated with the application of
the test rather than the test itself.  The difference between log- and
natural- scaled data can often profitably be thought about by asking
whether you would naturally assume that the variation is additive
(natural scale) or multiplicative (log scale).  Given the information
that you've presented there's no way we can tell which version of the
test is more reliable. 

I hope that this helps.

Andrew

On Wed, Sep 22, 2004 at 10:00:16AM +0200, Dimitris Rizopoulos wrote:
> Hi Liu,
> 
> before applying a t-test (or any test) you should first check if the 
> assumptions of the test are supported by your data, i.e., in a t-test 
> x and y must be normally distributed.
> 
> I hope it helps.
> 
> Best,
> Dimitris
> 
> ----
> Dimitris Rizopoulos
> Ph.D. Student
> Biostatistical Centre
> School of Public Health
> Catholic University of Leuven
> 
> Address: Kapucijnenvoer 35, Leuven, Belgium
> Tel: +32/16/396887
> Fax: +32/16/337015
> Web: http://www.med.kuleuven.ac.be/biostat/
>     http://www.student.kuleuven.ac.be/~m0390867/dimitris.htm
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "kan Liu" <kan_liu1 at yahoo.com>
> To: <r-help at stat.math.ethz.ch>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 9:52 AM
> Subject: [R] t test problem?
> 
> 
> >Hello,
> >
> >I got two sets of data
> >x=(124738, 128233, 85901, 33806, ...)
> >y=(25292, 21877, 45498, 63973, ....)
> >When I did a t test, I got two tail p-value = 0.117, which is not 
> >significantly different.
> >
> >If I changed x, y to log scale, and re-do the t test, I got two tail 
> >p-value = 0.042, which is significantly different.
> >
> >Now I got confused which one is correct. Any help would be very 
> >appreciated.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Liu
> >
> >__________________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
> >[[alternative HTML version deleted]]
> >
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