SBIR-STTR Award

This study investigated the feasibility of preparing computer software that presents tabular and graphic probability table output to aid experimenters. Major difficulties surmounted were: (1) preparation and exact probability subroutines for nonparametric statistical tests; (2) high-accuracy implementations-normal, inverse normal, error, and inverse error distributions; (3) design and implementation of the embedding system; and (4) plotting, probability results, and empirical vs. theoretical densities. For distributions, beta, chi-square, F, normal, and Student's t, and for the nonparametric tests, Wilcoxon rank sum and signed rank, the resulting system provides these functions: calculate and plot probabilities, showing critical points and placement of statistics; present subroutines-probabilities and uniform pseudorandom numbers; construct probability tables in tabular form; and provide a system and user interface where software and documents reside. For continuous cases, the system will generate, plot (generated deviates and theoretical counterparts), and test deviates. The analysis system allows consistent interpretation of experimental results, providing researchers assurance of correct results on which to base conclusions about hypotheses, the ability to access tables without being conversant with table construction, and the ability to use software without being knowledgeable about computing or numerical analysis. Feasibility has been demonstrated, and the possibility is open for extension of these results.

Anticipated Results:
The package of probability functions will be made available as a part of C. Abaci, Inc.'s, "The Scientific Desk." Thus, it will be presented to licensees at no added cost and will be available to other users at low cost. It will also be made available separately from The Scientific Desk. As a part of a product set, it will evolve periodically to take account of new research.National Cancer Institute

This study will develop computer software that presents tabular and graphic probability output, exact probability subroutines that consider the presence of ties (for nonparametric tests), and empirical tests for small samples of deviates from statistical distributions. The software will give needed aid to experimenters for the examination of hypotheses and be especially useful for experiments based on small samples. For various statistical distributions, the system will(1) calculate and plot probabilities, showing critical points and statistic placement;(2) present subroutines for calculating probabilities and pseudorandom deviates;(3) construct probability tables in tabular form;(4) provide a user interface where software and documents reside; and(5) for continuous distributions, generate, plot (generated deviates and the oretical counterparts), and test deviates.Design and implementation of the embedding system and its graphics component will provide unique abilities in probability plot presentation and viewable empirical testing of deviates. Hypotheses will be judged by viewing plots that show placement of statistics relative to critical points. The resulting software will allow consistent interpretation of experimental results. Experimenters need correct results on which to base conclusions about hypotheses and the ability to access tables without the requirement of being conversant with table construction.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:The software will be made available as a part of C. Abaci, Inc.'s, product, "The Scientiffc Desk. " It will be forwarded to licensees at no added cost and made available to other users at low cost. As a part of the product set, it will evolve periodically to take account of new research.National Cancer Institute (NCI)