Tests on a Subset of Regression Parameters for Factorial Experimental Data with Uncertain Higher Order Interactions

Abstract

The data generated by many factorial experiments are analyzed by linear regression models. Often the higher order interaction terms of such models are negligible (e.g., R. Mead, The Design of Experiments, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1988, p. 368) although there is uncertainty around it. This kind of nonsample prior information (NSPI) can be presented by null hypotheses (cf. T.A. Bancroft, Ann. Math. Stat. 15 (1944), 190 204), and its uncertainty removed through appropriate statistical test. Depending on the level of the NSPI the unrestricted, restricted, and pretest (PTT) tests are defined. The sampling distributions of test statistics and power functions of the three tests are derived. The graphical and analytical comparisons of powers reveal that the PTT dominates over the other tests.