What is Bartlett's Test?

The Bartlett's Test is a method used in statistics to evaluate whether variances are similar or equal in the available samples. Bartlett's Test statistics tests for equality of variances across population. Bartlett's Test was named after a statistician, M. S. Bartlett because of a paper he published in 1937. This method is used in the comparison of population variances as to whether they are equal or otherwise. For instance, it is commonly assumed that when there are three or more normal population, they have similar variances. The ANOVA and some DOE analysis results also assume this. If the assumption is however wrong, then the results may be misleading. The Bartlett test is used to verify this assumption.

\What is Bartlett's Test for Homogeneity of Variances

The Bartlett's Test was introduced when M. S. Bartlett published the paper Properties of Sufficiency and Statistical Tests in 1937. It was named after the founder. The Bartlett's Test assesses equality in variances drawn from different populations. When comparing three or more populations, the Bartlett's Test became a method to reckon with. The Bartlett's Test has the structure of a hypothesis test. It tests the popular assumption that where there are three or more normal variances, they have the same variance. It checks the validity of this assumption as to where the population variances are equal or otherwise. It uses the null and void alternative hypothesis in carrying out the test.

Barletts Test step by step

Hypotheses The Bartlett's Test uses the structure of a hypothesis test, it has step by step measures in testing equality in population variances. Both null and void alternative hypotheses are used when conducting the tests. Using the null hypothesis, all population variances being tested are compared as equal. The formula below is applicable; H0:21=21==2k However, if the population variances being tested are not all equal, the void hypothesis takes its form. That means at least one of the variances differs from the others. It is essential to know that the Bartlett's Test does not identify which of the variance is not equal to the others.

Test statistic

Here are simple steps to follow when calculating equality of population variances using the Bartlett's Test; Collect a sample of size (ni from the i-th) from the population. Identify and calculate the variance from each of the samples. Estimate the degrees of freedom of the samples. The i-th sample has i = ni 1 degrees of freedom, while the overall is =i=1ki. s2=i=1kis2i is then realized as the combined sample variance. However, with regard to Bartlett's Test, the test statistic must be divided by M, otherwise, it is bias. Hence, the corrected statistics; M/C will be used; C=1+13(k1)[(i=1k1i)1]. Critical value When approximated, M will reflect as 2k-1 but the approximation is appropriate when ni is at least 5. This birthed a critical value of 21,k1. (1- means confidence and k-1 degrees of freedom.

Conclusion

If the corrected M/C has a higher value than the critical value, then, one of the population variances differs from the others or not equal to the others. The null hypothesis will be rejected. The null hypothesis will not be rejected if M/C is less than or equal to the critical value. However, it stipulates that the null hypothesis cannot be rejected due to lack of sufficient evidence. This does not posit that the population variances are all equal, rather, it means that the inequality cannot be proven due to absence of data or insufficiency of proof.