On comparing locations of two-parameter exponential distributions using sequential sampling with applications in cancer research

Abstract

In this paper, we develop testing procedures for hypotheses regarding the difference of location parameters from two independent two-parameter exponential populations with unknown but proportional scale parameters. We design appropriate two-stage and purely sequential procedures to determine the appropriate sample sizes while controlling both type-I and type-II error probabilities at or below the preassigned levels α, β respectively. We prove that both two-stage and purely sequential testing strategies enjoy a number of practically appealing properties. Extensive sets of computer simulations validate our theoretical findings. We illustrate the testing methodologies along with sampling procedures on a cancer studies data.

KEYWORDS:

• Hypothesis tests
• Two-parameter exponential distributions
• Location parameters
• Purely sequential procedures
• Two-stage methodologies
• Cancer research