Combining probability from independent tests: the weighted Z‐method is superior to Fisher's approach

Journal of Evolutionary Biology - Tập 18 Số 5 - Trang 1368-1373 - 2005
Michael C. Whitlock1
1Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Tóm tắt

AbstractThe most commonly used method in evolutionary biology for combining information across multiple tests of the same null hypothesis is Fisher's combined probability test. This note shows that an alternative method called the weighted Z‐test has more power and more precision than does Fisher's test. Furthermore, in contrast to some statements in the literature, the weighted Z‐method is superior to the unweighted Z‐transform approach. The results in this note show that, when combining P‐values from multiple tests of the same hypothesis, the weighted Z‐method should be preferred.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

Becker B.J., 1994, The Handbook of Research Synthesis, 15

Cooper H., The Handbook of Research Synthesis

10.1136/bmj.316.7124.61

Fisher R.A., 1932, Statistical Methods for Research Workers

Liptak T., 1958, On the combination of independent tests, Magyar Tud. Akad. Mat. Kutato Int. Kozl., 3, 171

Mosteller F., 1954, Handbook of Social Psychology, 289

10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.31.1.441

10.1111/j.1558-5646.1989.tb04220.x

10.2307/2531435

Rosenthal R., 1978, Combining results of independent studies, Psycho. Bull., 85, 185, 10.1037/0033-2909.85.1.185

Stouffer S.A., 1949, The American Soldier, Vol. 1: Adjustment during Army Life

10.2307/2987655

Wolfram S., 2003, Mathematica v. 5.0.0.0, Wolfram Research Inc

10.1214/aoms/1177698861

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

Journal of Evolutionary Biology

Tập 18 Số 5

1368-1373

Thông tin tác giả