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A statistical test to show negligible trend
Ecology
  • Philip M. Dixon, Iowa State University
  • Joseph H. K. Pechmann, University of New Orleans
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1-1-2005
DOI
10.1890/04-1343
Abstract

The usual statistical tests of trend are inappropriate for demonstrating the absence of trend. This is because failure to reject the null hypothesis of no trend does not prove that null hypothesis. The appropriate statistical method is based on an equivalence test. The null hypothesis is that the trend is not zero, i.e., outside an a priori specified equivalence region defining trends that are considered to be negligible. This null hypothesis can be tested with two one-sided tests. A proposed equivalence region for trends in population size is a log-linear regression slope of (−0.0346, 0.0346). This corresponds to a half-life or doubling time of 20 years for population size. A less conservative region is (−0.0693, 0.0693), which corresponds to a halving or doubling time of 10 years. The approach is illustrated with data on four amphibian populations; one provides significant evidence of no trend.

Comments

This is an article from Ecology 86 (2005): 1751, doi:10.1890/04-1343. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
Ecological Society of America
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Philip M. Dixon and Joseph H. K. Pechmann. "A statistical test to show negligible trend" Ecology Vol. 86 Iss. 7 (2005) p. 1751 - 1756
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/philip-dixon/5/