Automated hypothesis testing

Abstract

A method of automatically applying a hypothesis test to a data set. The method reduces errors made in failing to appreciate predicate assumptions of various statistical tests, and elicits a series of indications from the user regarding characteristics of interest embodied by the data set to select an appropriate statistical test. The system also reduces errors in constructing competing null and alternative hypothesis statements by generating a characterization of the data and defining null and alternative hypotheses according to the indications, selected statistical test, and conventions adopted with respect to the tests. The system also establishes a significance level, calculates the test statistic, and generates an output. The output of the system provides a plain interpretation of the quantitative results in the terms indicated by the user to reduce errors in interpretation of the conclusion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of selecting a hypothesis test to be applied to at least one data set using a display, an input device, and a processor, the method comprising:
 providing on the display a description, understandable by a user unfamiliar with statistical analysis, of a plurality of data types;   providing on the display a description, understandable by a user unfamiliar with statistical analysis, of a plurality of statistical parameters of interest;   providing on the display a description, understandable by a user unfamiliar with statistical analysis, of a plurality of sample sizes;   receiving from an input device an indication of the data type of the one or more data sets;   receiving from the input device an indication of which of the plurality of statistical parameters of interest is to be tested;   receiving from the input device an indication of the sample size of the one or more data sets;   selecting a test to execute based on received indications; and   executing, by the processor, the selected test.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is remote from the display and the input device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processor, display, and input device are incorporated in a computer local to the user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a remote computing device provides the descriptions and the results of the test to the display, receives the indications from the input device, and executes the test. 
     
     
         5 . A method of automatic analysis of at least one data set by applying a hypothesis test to find differences in the at least one data set between a sample and a target, between two samples or between multiple samples using a display, an input device, and a processor, the method comprising:
 providing on a non-transitory computer readable medium a plurality of statistical tests applicable to the at least one data set;   providing on the display a description, understandable by a user unfamiliar with statistical analysis, of a plurality of data types and a plurality of statistical parameters of interest;   receiving from the input device an indication of a data type and a statistical parameter of interest;   using the processor to select a test from among the plurality of tests based on the indications;   providing on the display a description, understandable by a user unfamiliar with statistical analysis, of the selected test;   receiving from the input device indications of a plurality of parameters of the test;   using the processor to execute the selected test; and   providing on the display a description, understandable by a user unfamiliar with statistical analysis, of the results of the test.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is remote from the display and the input device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the processor, display, and input device are incorporated in a computer local to the user.