Non-Parametric Tests in Data Science
Non-parametric tests are statistical methods that provide analytical flexibility when the data does not meet the stringent assumptions required by parametric tests. These tests are particularly valuable in data science, where data may be skewed, ordinal, or have outliers that violate normal distribution assumptions. Why Choose Non-Parametric Tests? Unlike parametric methods, non-parametric tests do not rely heavily on distribution assumptions. They are effective when sample sizes are small or when data do not meet the criteria for normality or equal variances. These tests analyze the ranks or medians of the data, making them robust against non-linear patterns. Types of Non-Parametric Tests Mann-Whitney U Test: A substitute for the independent samples t-test, used to compare the distributions of two independent groups without assuming normality. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test: An alternative to the paired samples t-test, useful for comparing two related samples or matched pairs. Kruskal...