Jean D. Gibbons

Rankings of Economics Faculties and Representation on Editorial Boards of Top Journals.

Two lists of economics departments are developed on the basis of editorial board representation on economics journals. Editorial board representation is shown to have a positive correlation with other previously published rankings of economics departments.

A Comparison of the Publications of Female and Male Economists

The publication records of female and male economists are compared. Some explanations are offered for the differences.

Kolmogorov-Smirnov Two-Sample Tests

We have not previously discussed the use of criteria suggested by direct comparison of empirical (sample) cumulative distribution functions with one another or with hypothetical c.d.f.’s (“goodness of fit”). This important approach leads to a wide variety of procedures which stand apart from the procedures of earlier chapters in several respects. They are expressed in a different form. The relevant statistics are not approximately or asymptotically normally distributed. The theory of their asymptotic behavior is fascinating and raises different kinds of problems requiring different kinds of tools. The mathematical interest of these and other problems has played a larger role than statistical questions in motivating the extensive literature about them, although there is also some excellent work on statistically important questions.

Comparisons of the Mann-Whitney, Student's "t", and Alternate "t" Tests for Means of Normal Distributions.

AbstractThis paper presents the results of a simulation study to compare the performance of the Mann-Whitney U test, Studentߣs t test, and the alternate (separate variance) t test for two mutually independent random samples from normal distributions, with both one-tailed and two-tailed alternatives. The estimated probability of a Type I error was controlled (in the sense of being reasonably close to the attainable level) by all three tests when the variances were equal, regardless of the sample sizes. However, it was controlled only by the alternate t test for unequal variances with unequal sample sizes. With equal sample sizes, the probability was controlled by all three tests regardless of the variances. When it was controlled, we also compared the power of these tests and found very little difference. This means that very little power will be lost if the Mann-Whitney U test is used instead of tests that require the assumption of normal distributions.

A subset selection technique for scoring items on a multiple choice test

On a multiple-choice test in which each item hask alternative responses, the test taker is permitted to choose any subset which he believes contains the one correct answer. A scoring system is devised that depends on the size of the subset and on whether or not the correct answer is eliminated. The mean and variance of the score per item are obtained. Methods are derived for determining the total number of items that should be included on the test so that the average score on all items can be regarded as a good measure of the subjects knowledge. Efficiency comparisons between conventional and the subset selection scoring procedures are made. The analogous problem ofr > 1 correct answers for each item (withr fixed and known) is also considered.

Devaluation and US tourism expenditure in Mexico.

Abstract Studies that investigate the factors affecting US tourism expenditures in Mexico generally regard relative prices in these countries as sensitive determinants. The findings of inelasticity of expenditures of American tourists with respect to prices in the Mexican interior and border in several studies published in the 1980s are debatable. This study evaluates the impact of recent peso devaluations by adjusting 1970–1982 US tourism expenditures by an index that combines the Consumer Price Index in dollars, the CPI in pesos, and the exchange rate. The results here clearly indicate that US expenditures in the interior and on the border are price sensitive and have a strong positive trend reaction to devaluation in both nominal and real terms. Border expenditures clearly exceed interior expenditures and are more sensitive to exchange rate changes than expenditures in interior Mexico.

Organizations for Statistical Consulting at Colleges and Universities

Abstract The importance of correct implementation of statistical methodology in a wide variety of research is widely acknowledged. Few universities, however, have given thought to providing a means of ensuring that their research efforts employ statistics in an appropriate manner. Specifically, many universities have not established any formal structure for the delivery of statistical consulting services. This article addresses this problem by discussing how the consultant, the consultee, and the institution fare under a number of different organizational structures. The conclusion reached is that a separately funded consulting center operated as a division of a department of statistics is the most appropriate way to provide statistical consulting and to ensure quality research, although at many universities alternate organizational structures are probably more feasible at this time.

An Introduction to Ranking and Selection

Abstract This expository paper explains the philosophy of the indifference-zone approach and the subset-selection approach to ranking and selection procedures. It includes examples of operating characteristic curves and data applications for selection problems based on the binomial and normal distributions. A variety of different models and goals are provided with a list of references.

U.S. Institutional Representation on Editorial Boards of U.S. Statistics Journals

Abstract This article presents two different, but similar, rankings of U.S. statistics faculties according to their current representation on editorial boards of 14 U.S. statistics journals. The data show that there is a widespread balance of individuals, institutions, and geographical locations in the U.S. with respect to publication officers.

Baseball Competitions—Are Enough Games Played?

Abstract This article investigates the number of games of baseball that should be played (1) in a World Series competition, and (2) in a pennant race competition within each league, in order to have a reasonable level of confidence that the best team wins the competition. The current number of games played is found to be highly inadequate for the World Series and only barely sufficient for the pennant race.