Process Analysis Using the Runs Test

Abstract

Raouf and Sathé [1] give a computer program for evaluating whether or not a sequence of observations can be considered random, using the number of runs and the sample median as a reference point. In this paper, the basic runs test is reviewed and then it is shown to be useful in a wide variety of situations. The number of runs can be used

• to detect patterns in production,

• to examine regression models for underfitting or misfitting,

• to look for serial correlation in time series or trend analysis,

• to evaluate discriminant analysis functions with qualitative or other non-normal preditor variables, and for many other purposes.

• Discriminant Analysis
• Goodness of Fit
• Process Analysis
• Runs Test
• Serial Correlation
• Trend Analysis

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gary M. Mullet

Dr. Mullet, a member of the American Statistical Association, is Associate Professor of Statistics, College of Industrial Management, Georgia Institute of Technology.