Similarity, Equivalence Testing, and Discrimination Theory

Abstract

This chapter discusses equivalence testing and how difference tests are modified in their analyses to guard against Type II error (missing a true difference). Concepts of test power and required sample sizes are discussed and illustrated. An alternative approach to equivalence, namely interval testing is introduced along with the concept of paired one-sided tests. Two theoretical approaches to themeasurement of the size of a difference are introduced: discriminator theory (also called guessing models) and the signal detection or Thurstonian models.