Coefficients of lee-gurland two-sample test on normal means

Abstract

The Behrens-Fisher problem in comparing means of two normal populations is revisited Lee and Gurland (1975) suggested a solution to the problem and provided the set of coefficients required in computing critical values for the case α=005, where α is the nominal level of significance This solution, called the Lee-Guiland Test in this article, has proven to be practical as far as calculation is involved, and more importantly, it maintains the actual size very close to α= 0.05 for possible values of the ratio of population variances This merit has not been attained by most of the Behrens-Fisher solutions in the literature. In this article, the coefficients for other values of α, namely 0 025, 0 01 and 0.005 are provided for wider applications of the test Moreover, careful and detailed comparisons are made in terms of size and power with the other practical solution:the Welch's Approximate t I est Due to a possible drawback of the Welch's Approximate t I est in controlling the actual size, especially for small a and small sample sizes, the Lee-Gurland lest presents itself as a slightly better' alternative in testing equality of two normal population means I he coefficients mentioned above are also fitted by the functions of the reciprocals of the degrees of freedom, so that the substantial amount of table-looking can be avoided Some discussions are also made in regarding the recent “Welch vs Gosset” argument: Should the Student's t Test be dispensed off’from the routine use in testing the equality of two normal means?.

Keywords:

• Behrens-Fisher problem
• test of equality of two normal population means when variances are possibly unequal
• size
• power
• coefficients for critical values