Overview of the Matched Pairs Platform

The Matched Pairs platform compares row-by-row differences between two response columns using a paired t-test. Often, the two columns represent measurements on the same subject before and after some treatment. Alternatively, the measurements could represent data taken on the same subject with two different instruments.

If you have paired data arranged in two data table columns, then you are ready to use the Matched Pairs platform. However, if all of your measurements are in a single column, then perform one of the following tasks:

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Use the Split option in the Tables menu to split the column of measurements into two columns. Then you can use the Matched Pairs platform.

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For two response columns, create a third column that calculates the difference between the two responses. Then test that the mean of the difference column is zero with the Distribution platform.

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For the two responses stored in a single column, you can do a two-way analysis of variance. One factor (the ID variable) identifies the two responses and the other factor identifies the subject. Use the Fit Y by X Oneway platform with a blocking variable (the subject column), or use the Fit Model platform to do a two-way ANOVA. The test on the ID factor is equivalent to the paired t-test.

Note: If the data are paired, do not do a regular independent t-test. Do not stack the data into one column and use the Fit Y by X One-way ANOVA on the ID without specifying a block variable. To do this has the effect of ignoring the correlation between the responses. This causes the test to overestimate the effect if responses are negatively correlated, or to underestimate the effect if responses are positively correlated.