Goodness of fit test overview

This page offers structured overviews of one or more selected methods. Add additional methods for comparisons by clicking on the dropdown button in the right-hand column. To practice with a specific method click the button at the bottom row of the table

Goodness of fit test	Kruskal-Wallis test	Cochran's Q test	Paired sample $t$ test	One sample $t$ test for the mean	Sign test	Friedman test	Paired sample $t$ test
Independent variable	Independent/grouping variable	Independent/grouping variable	Independent variable	Independent variable	Independent variable	Independent/grouping variable	Independent variable
None	One categorical with $I$ independent groups ($I \geqslant 2$)	One within subject factor ($\geq 2$ related groups)	2 paired groups	None	2 paired groups	One within subject factor ($\geq 2$ related groups)	2 paired groups
Dependent variable	Dependent variable	Dependent variable	Dependent variable	Dependent variable	Dependent variable	Dependent variable	Dependent variable
One categorical with $J$ independent groups ($J \geqslant 2$)	One of ordinal level	One categorical with 2 independent groups	One quantitative of interval or ratio level	One quantitative of interval or ratio level	One of ordinal level	One of ordinal level	One quantitative of interval or ratio level
Null hypothesis	Null hypothesis	Null hypothesis	Null hypothesis	Null hypothesis	Null hypothesis	Null hypothesis	Null hypothesis
H₀: the population proportions in each of the $J$ conditions are $\pi_1$, $\pi_2$, $\ldots$, $\pi_J$ or equivalently H₀: the probability of drawing an observation from condition 1 is $\pi_1$, the probability of drawing an observation from condition 2 is $\pi_2$, $\ldots$, the probability of drawing an observation from condition $J$ is $\pi_J$	If the dependent variable is measured on a continuous scale and the shape of the distribution of the dependent variable is the same in all $I$ populations: H₀: the population medians for the $I$ groups are equal Else: Formulation 1: H₀: the population scores in any of the $I$ groups are not systematically higher or lower than the population scores in any of the other groups Formulation 2: H₀: P(an observation from population $g$ exceeds an observation from population $h$) = P(an observation from population $h$ exceeds an observation from population $g$), for each pair of groups. Several different formulations of the null hypothesis can be found in the literature, and we do not agree with all of them. Make sure you (also) learn the one that is given in your text book or by your teacher.	H₀: $\pi_1 = \pi_2 = \ldots = \pi_I$ Here $\pi_1$ is the population proportion of 'successes' for group 1, $\pi_2$ is the population proportion of 'successes' for group 2, and $\pi_I$ is the population proportion of 'successes' for group $I.$	H₀: $\mu = \mu_0$ Here $\mu$ is the population mean of the difference scores, and $\mu_0$ is the population mean of the difference scores according to the null hypothesis, which is usually 0. A difference score is the difference between the first score of a pair and the second score of a pair.	H₀: $\mu = \mu_0$ Here $\mu$ is the population mean, and $\mu_0$ is the population mean according to the null hypothesis.	H₀: P(first score of a pair exceeds second score of a pair) = P(second score of a pair exceeds first score of a pair) If the dependent variable is measured on a continuous scale, this can also be formulated as: H₀: the population median of the difference scores is equal to zero A difference score is the difference between the first score of a pair and the second score of a pair.	H₀: the population scores in any of the related groups are not systematically higher or lower than the population scores in any of the other related groups Usually the related groups are the different measurement points. Several different formulations of the null hypothesis can be found in the literature, and we do not agree with all of them. Make sure you (also) learn the one that is given in your text book or by your teacher.	H₀: $\mu = \mu_0$ Here $\mu$ is the population mean of the difference scores, and $\mu_0$ is the population mean of the difference scores according to the null hypothesis, which is usually 0. A difference score is the difference between the first score of a pair and the second score of a pair.
Alternative hypothesis	Alternative hypothesis	Alternative hypothesis	Alternative hypothesis	Alternative hypothesis	Alternative hypothesis	Alternative hypothesis	Alternative hypothesis
H₁: the population proportions are not all as specified under the null hypothesis or equivalently H₁: the probabilities of drawing an observation from each of the conditions are not all as specified under the null hypothesis	If the dependent variable is measured on a continuous scale and the shape of the distribution of the dependent variable is the same in all $I$ populations: H₁: not all of the population medians for the $I$ groups are equal Else: Formulation 1: H₁: the poplation scores in some groups are systematically higher or lower than the population scores in other groups Formulation 2: H₁: for at least one pair of groups: P(an observation from population $g$ exceeds an observation from population $h$) $\neq$ P(an observation from population $h$ exceeds an observation from population $g$)	H₁: not all population proportions are equal	H₁ two sided: $\mu \neq \mu_0$ H₁ right sided: $\mu > \mu_0$ H₁ left sided: $\mu < \mu_0$	H₁ two sided: $\mu \neq \mu_0$ H₁ right sided: $\mu > \mu_0$ H₁ left sided: $\mu < \mu_0$	H₁ two sided: P(first score of a pair exceeds second score of a pair) $\neq$ P(second score of a pair exceeds first score of a pair) H₁ right sided: P(first score of a pair exceeds second score of a pair) > P(second score of a pair exceeds first score of a pair) H₁ left sided: P(first score of a pair exceeds second score of a pair) < P(second score of a pair exceeds first score of a pair) If the dependent variable is measured on a continuous scale, this can also be formulated as: H₁ two sided: the population median of the difference scores is different from zero H₁ right sided: the population median of the difference scores is larger than zero H₁ left sided: the population median of the difference scores is smaller than zero	H₁: the population scores in some of the related groups are systematically higher or lower than the population scores in other related groups	H₁ two sided: $\mu \neq \mu_0$ H₁ right sided: $\mu > \mu_0$ H₁ left sided: $\mu < \mu_0$
Assumptions	Assumptions	Assumptions	Assumptions	Assumptions	Assumptions	Assumptions	Assumptions
Sample size is large enough for $X^2$ to be approximately chi-squared distributed. Rule of thumb: all $J$ expected cell counts are 5 or more Sample is a simple random sample from the population. That is, observations are independent of one another	Group 1 sample is a simple random sample (SRS) from population 1, group 2 sample is an independent SRS from population 2, $\ldots$, group $I$ sample is an independent SRS from population $I$. That is, within and between groups, observations are independent of one another	Sample of 'blocks' (usually the subjects) is a simple random sample from the population. That is, blocks are independent of one another	Difference scores are normally distributed in the population Sample of difference scores is a simple random sample from the population of difference scores. That is, difference scores are independent of one another	Scores are normally distributed in the population Sample is a simple random sample from the population. That is, observations are independent of one another	Sample of pairs is a simple random sample from the population of pairs. That is, pairs are independent of one another	Sample of 'blocks' (usually the subjects) is a simple random sample from the population. That is, blocks are independent of one another	Difference scores are normally distributed in the population Sample of difference scores is a simple random sample from the population of difference scores. That is, difference scores are independent of one another
Test statistic	Test statistic	Test statistic	Test statistic	Test statistic	Test statistic	Test statistic	Test statistic
$X^2 = \sum{\frac{(\mbox{observed cell count} - \mbox{expected cell count})^2}{\mbox{expected cell count}}}$ Here the expected cell count for one cell = $N \times \pi_j$, the observed cell count is the observed sample count in that same cell, and the sum is over all $J$ cells.	$H = \dfrac{12}{N (N + 1)} \sum \dfrac{R^2_i}{n_i} - 3(N + 1)$ Here $N$ is the total sample size, $R_i$ is the sum of ranks in group $i$, and $n_i$ is the sample size of group $i$. Remember that multiplication precedes addition, so first compute $\frac{12}{N (N + 1)} \times \sum \frac{R^2_i}{n_i}$ and then subtract $3(N + 1)$. Note: if ties are present in the data, the formula for $H$ is more complicated.	If a failure is scored as 0 and a success is scored as 1: $Q = k(k - 1) \dfrac{\sum_{groups} \Big (\mbox{group total} - \frac{\mbox{grand total}}{k} \Big)^2}{\sum_{blocks} \mbox{block total} \times (k - \mbox{block total})}$ Here $k$ is the number of related groups (usually the number of repeated measurements), a group total is the sum of the scores in a group, a block total is the sum of the scores in a block (usually a subject), and the grand total is the sum of all the scores. Before computing $Q$, first exclude blocks with equal scores in all $k$ groups.	$t = \dfrac{\bar{y} - \mu_0}{s / \sqrt{N}}$ Here $\bar{y}$ is the sample mean of the difference scores, $\mu_0$ is the population mean of the difference scores according to the null hypothesis, $s$ is the sample standard deviation of the difference scores, and $N$ is the sample size (number of difference scores). The denominator $s / \sqrt{N}$ is the standard error of the sampling distribution of $\bar{y}$. The $t$ value indicates how many standard errors $\bar{y}$ is removed from $\mu_0$.	$t = \dfrac{\bar{y} - \mu_0}{s / \sqrt{N}}$ Here $\bar{y}$ is the sample mean, $\mu_0$ is the population mean according to the null hypothesis, $s$ is the sample standard deviation, and $N$ is the sample size. The denominator $s / \sqrt{N}$ is the standard error of the sampling distribution of $\bar{y}$. The $t$ value indicates how many standard errors $\bar{y}$ is removed from $\mu_0$.	$W = $ number of difference scores that is larger than 0	$Q = \dfrac{12}{N \times k(k + 1)} \sum R^2_i - 3 \times N(k + 1)$ Here $N$ is the number of 'blocks' (usually the subjects - so if you have 4 repeated measurements for 60 subjects, $N$ equals 60), $k$ is the number of related groups (usually the number of repeated measurements), and $R_i$ is the sum of ranks in group $i$. Remember that multiplication precedes addition, so first compute $\frac{12}{N \times k(k + 1)} \times \sum R^2_i$ and then subtract $3 \times N(k + 1)$. Note: if ties are present in the data, the formula for $Q$ is more complicated.	$t = \dfrac{\bar{y} - \mu_0}{s / \sqrt{N}}$ Here $\bar{y}$ is the sample mean of the difference scores, $\mu_0$ is the population mean of the difference scores according to the null hypothesis, $s$ is the sample standard deviation of the difference scores, and $N$ is the sample size (number of difference scores). The denominator $s / \sqrt{N}$ is the standard error of the sampling distribution of $\bar{y}$. The $t$ value indicates how many standard errors $\bar{y}$ is removed from $\mu_0$.
Sampling distribution of $X^2$ if H₀ were true	Sampling distribution of $H$ if H₀ were true	Sampling distribution of $Q$ if H₀ were true	Sampling distribution of $t$ if H₀ were true	Sampling distribution of $t$ if H₀ were true	Sampling distribution of $W$ if H₀ were true	Sampling distribution of $Q$ if H₀ were true	Sampling distribution of $t$ if H₀ were true
Approximately the chi-squared distribution with $J - 1$ degrees of freedom	For large samples, approximately the chi-squared distribution with $I - 1$ degrees of freedom. For small samples, the exact distribution of $H$ should be used.	If the number of blocks (usually the number of subjects) is large, approximately the chi-squared distribution with $k - 1$ degrees of freedom	$t$ distribution with $N - 1$ degrees of freedom	$t$ distribution with $N - 1$ degrees of freedom	The exact distribution of $W$ under the null hypothesis is the Binomial($n$, $P$) distribution, with $n =$ number of positive differences $+$ number of negative differences, and $P = 0.5$. If $n$ is large, $W$ is approximately normally distributed under the null hypothesis, with mean $nP = n \times 0.5$ and standard deviation $\sqrt{nP(1-P)} = \sqrt{n \times 0.5(1 - 0.5)}$. Hence, if $n$ is large, the standardized test statistic $$z = \frac{W - n \times 0.5}{\sqrt{n \times 0.5(1 - 0.5)}}$$ follows approximately the standard normal distribution if the null hypothesis were true.	If the number of blocks $N$ is large, approximately the chi-squared distribution with $k - 1$ degrees of freedom. For small samples, the exact distribution of $Q$ should be used.	$t$ distribution with $N - 1$ degrees of freedom
Significant?	Significant?	Significant?	Significant?	Significant?	Significant?	Significant?	Significant?
Check if $X^2$ observed in sample is equal to or larger than critical value $X^{2*}$ or Find $p$ value corresponding to observed $X^2$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$	For large samples, the table with critical $X^2$ values can be used. If we denote $X^2 = H$: Check if $X^2$ observed in sample is equal to or larger than critical value $X^{2*}$ or Find $p$ value corresponding to observed $X^2$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$	If the number of blocks is large, the table with critical $X^2$ values can be used. If we denote $X^2 = Q$: Check if $X^2$ observed in sample is equal to or larger than critical value $X^{2*}$ or Find $p$ value corresponding to observed $X^2$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$	Two sided: Check if $t$ observed in sample is at least as extreme as critical value $t^$ or Find two sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $t$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$ Right sided: Check if $t$ observed in sample is equal to or larger than critical value $t^$ or Find right sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $t$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$ Left sided: Check if $t$ observed in sample is equal to or smaller than critical value $t^*$ or Find left sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $t$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$	Two sided: Check if $t$ observed in sample is at least as extreme as critical value $t^$ or Find two sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $t$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$ Right sided: Check if $t$ observed in sample is equal to or larger than critical value $t^$ or Find right sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $t$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$ Left sided: Check if $t$ observed in sample is equal to or smaller than critical value $t^*$ or Find left sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $t$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$	If $n$ is small, the table for the binomial distribution should be used: Two sided: Check if $W$ observed in sample is in the rejection region or Find two sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $W$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$ Right sided: Check if $W$ observed in sample is in the rejection region or Find right sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $W$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$ Left sided: Check if $W$ observed in sample is in the rejection region or Find left sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $W$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$ If $n$ is large, the table for standard normal probabilities can be used: Two sided: Check if $z$ observed in sample is at least as extreme as critical value $z^$ or Find two sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $z$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$ Right sided: Check if $z$ observed in sample is equal to or larger than critical value $z^$ or Find right sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $z$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$ Left sided: Check if $z$ observed in sample is equal to or smaller than critical value $z^*$ or Find left sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $z$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$	If the number of blocks $N$ is large, the table with critical $X^2$ values can be used. If we denote $X^2 = Q$: Check if $X^2$ observed in sample is equal to or larger than critical value $X^{2*}$ or Find $p$ value corresponding to observed $X^2$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$	Two sided: Check if $t$ observed in sample is at least as extreme as critical value $t^$ or Find two sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $t$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$ Right sided: Check if $t$ observed in sample is equal to or larger than critical value $t^$ or Find right sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $t$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$ Left sided: Check if $t$ observed in sample is equal to or smaller than critical value $t^*$ or Find left sided $p$ value corresponding to observed $t$ and check if it is equal to or smaller than $\alpha$
n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	$C\%$ confidence interval for $\mu$	$C\%$ confidence interval for $\mu$	n.a.	n.a.	$C\%$ confidence interval for $\mu$
-	-	-	$\bar{y} \pm t^* \times \dfrac{s}{\sqrt{N}}$ where the critical value $t^$ is the value under the $t_{N-1}$ distribution with the area $C / 100$ between $-t^$ and $t^$ (e.g. $t^$ = 2.086 for a 95% confidence interval when df = 20). The confidence interval for $\mu$ can also be used as significance test.	$\bar{y} \pm t^* \times \dfrac{s}{\sqrt{N}}$ where the critical value $t^$ is the value under the $t_{N-1}$ distribution with the area $C / 100$ between $-t^$ and $t^$ (e.g. $t^$ = 2.086 for a 95% confidence interval when df = 20). The confidence interval for $\mu$ can also be used as significance test.	-	-	$\bar{y} \pm t^* \times \dfrac{s}{\sqrt{N}}$ where the critical value $t^$ is the value under the $t_{N-1}$ distribution with the area $C / 100$ between $-t^$ and $t^$ (e.g. $t^$ = 2.086 for a 95% confidence interval when df = 20). The confidence interval for $\mu$ can also be used as significance test.
n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	Effect size	Effect size	n.a.	n.a.	Effect size
-	-	-	Cohen's $d$: Standardized difference between the sample mean of the difference scores and $\mu_0$: $$d = \frac{\bar{y} - \mu_0}{s}$$ Cohen's $d$ indicates how many standard deviations $s$ the sample mean of the difference scores $\bar{y}$ is removed from $\mu_0.$	Cohen's $d$: Standardized difference between the sample mean and $\mu_0$: $$d = \frac{\bar{y} - \mu_0}{s}$$ Cohen's $d$ indicates how many standard deviations $s$ the sample mean $\bar{y}$ is removed from $\mu_0.$	-	-	Cohen's $d$: Standardized difference between the sample mean of the difference scores and $\mu_0$: $$d = \frac{\bar{y} - \mu_0}{s}$$ Cohen's $d$ indicates how many standard deviations $s$ the sample mean of the difference scores $\bar{y}$ is removed from $\mu_0.$
n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	Visual representation	Visual representation	n.a.	n.a.	Visual representation
-	-	-			-	-
n.a.	n.a.	Equivalent to	Equivalent to	n.a.	Equivalent to	n.a.	Equivalent to
-	-	Friedman test, with a categorical dependent variable consisting of two independent groups.	One sample $t$ test on the difference scores. Repeated measures ANOVA with one dichotomous within subjects factor.	-	Two sided sign test is equivalent to McNemar's test: $W = b$, and $z^2 = X^2$ Friedman test with two related groups	-	One sample $t$ test on the difference scores. Repeated measures ANOVA with one dichotomous within subjects factor.
Example context	Example context	Example context	Example context	Example context	Example context	Example context	Example context
Is the proportion of people with a low, moderate, and high social economic status in the population different from $\pi_{low} = 0.2,$ $\pi_{moderate} = 0.6,$ and $\pi_{high} = 0.2$?	Do people from different religions tend to score differently on social economic status?	Subjects perform three different tasks, which they can either perform correctly or incorrectly. Is there a difference in task performance between the three different tasks?	Is the average difference between the mental health scores before and after an intervention different from $\mu_0 = 0$?	Is the average mental health score of office workers different from $\mu_0 = 50$?	Do people tend to score higher on mental health after a mindfulness course?	Is there a difference in depression level between measurement point 1 (pre-intervention), measurement point 2 (1 week post-intervention), and measurement point 3 (6 weeks post-intervention)?	Is the average difference between the mental health scores before and after an intervention different from $\mu_0 = 0$?
SPSS	SPSS	SPSS	SPSS	SPSS	SPSS	SPSS	SPSS
Analyze > Nonparametric Tests > Legacy Dialogs > Chi-square... Put your categorical variable in the box below Test Variable List Fill in the population proportions / probabilities according to $H_0$ in the box below Expected Values. If $H_0$ states that they are all equal, just pick 'All categories equal' (default)	Analyze > Nonparametric Tests > Legacy Dialogs > K Independent Samples... Put your dependent variable in the box below Test Variable List and your independent (grouping) variable in the box below Grouping Variable Click on the Define Range... button. If you can't click on it, first click on the grouping variable so its background turns yellow Fill in the smallest value you have used to indicate your groups in the box next to Minimum, and the largest value you have used to indicate your groups in the box next to Maximum Continue and click OK	Analyze > Nonparametric Tests > Legacy Dialogs > K Related Samples... Put the $k$ variables containing the scores for the $k$ related groups in the white box below Test Variables Under Test Type, select Cochran's Q test	Analyze > Compare Means > Paired-Samples T Test... Put the two paired variables in the boxes below Variable 1 and Variable 2	Analyze > Compare Means > One-Sample T Test... Put your variable in the box below Test Variable(s) Fill in the value for $\mu_0$ in the box next to Test Value	Analyze > Nonparametric Tests > Legacy Dialogs > 2 Related Samples... Put the two paired variables in the boxes below Variable 1 and Variable 2 Under Test Type, select the Sign test	Analyze > Nonparametric Tests > Legacy Dialogs > K Related Samples... Put the $k$ variables containing the scores for the $k$ related groups in the white box below Test Variables Under Test Type, select the Friedman test	Analyze > Compare Means > Paired-Samples T Test... Put the two paired variables in the boxes below Variable 1 and Variable 2
Jamovi	Jamovi	Jamovi	Jamovi	Jamovi	Jamovi	Jamovi	Jamovi
Frequencies > N Outcomes - $\chi^2$ Goodness of fit Put your categorical variable in the box below Variable Click on Expected Proportions and fill in the population proportions / probabilities according to $H_0$ in the boxes below Ratio. If $H_0$ states that they are all equal, you can leave the ratios equal to the default values (1)	ANOVA > One Way ANOVA - Kruskal-Wallis Put your dependent variable in the box below Dependent Variables and your independent (grouping) variable in the box below Grouping Variable	Jamovi does not have a specific option for the Cochran's Q test. However, you can do the Friedman test instead. The $p$ value resulting from this Friedman test is equivalent to the $p$ value that would have resulted from the Cochran's Q test. Go to: ANOVA > Repeated Measures ANOVA - Friedman Put the $k$ variables containing the scores for the $k$ related groups in the box below Measures	T-Tests > Paired Samples T-Test Put the two paired variables in the box below Paired Variables, one on the left side of the vertical line and one on the right side of the vertical line Under Hypothesis, select your alternative hypothesis	T-Tests > One Sample T-Test Put your variable in the box below Dependent Variables Under Hypothesis, fill in the value for $\mu_0$ in the box next to Test Value, and select your alternative hypothesis	Jamovi does not have a specific option for the sign test. However, you can do the Friedman test instead. The $p$ value resulting from this Friedman test is equivalent to the two sided $p$ value that would have resulted from the sign test. Go to: ANOVA > Repeated Measures ANOVA - Friedman Put the two paired variables in the box below Measures	ANOVA > Repeated Measures ANOVA - Friedman Put the $k$ variables containing the scores for the $k$ related groups in the box below Measures	T-Tests > Paired Samples T-Test Put the two paired variables in the box below Paired Variables, one on the left side of the vertical line and one on the right side of the vertical line Under Hypothesis, select your alternative hypothesis
Practice questions	Practice questions	Practice questions	Practice questions	Practice questions	Practice questions	Practice questions	Practice questions

Goodness of fit test - overview