Using statistics to analyse listening test data: Some sources and advice for nonstatisticians

Abstract

After a short review of some useful introductory statistical sources, an ABX listening test case study was presented. Important features of the experimental design and execution were described before an explanation of how the data was analysed. An introduction to each statistical technique was presented, followed by the results and conclusions from the listening tests. Particular attention was paid to non-parametric statistical analysis throughout the paper; this was appropriate for the kind of data produced by two-alternative forced choice tests, but is not often addressed fully in the audio literature. Analysis methods used in the case study included binomial percentage calculations when approximating the normal distribution, the chi-square test for independence, and Spearman's rank order correlation coefficient. Copyright © (2009) by the Institute of Acoustics.