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Dataplot Vol 1 Vol 2

KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST

Name:
    KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST
Type:
    Analysis Command
Purpose:
    Perform the kurtosis test for univariate outliers from a normal distribution.
Description:
    The ASTM E178-16a standard for detecting outliers from a univariate normal distribution includes the kurtosis outlier test.

    The test statistic is the kurtosis coefficient

    \[ g_2 = \frac{n (n+1) \sum_{i=1}^{n}{(x_{i} - \bar{x})^4}} {(n-1) (n-2) (n-3) s^{4}} - \frac{3 (n-1)^2}{(n-2) (n-3)} \]

    with n, \( \bar{x} \) and s denoting the sample size, the sample mean and the sample standard deviation, respectively. Note that this definition is different than the one used by Dataplot's EXCESS KURTOSIS command.

    The critical values are obtained via simulation. The ASTM standard provides table values for n = 3 to 50 and \( \alpha \) levels of 0.10, 0.05 and 0.01. Linear interpolation is used for values of n not given in the table. Alternatively, you can perform a dynamic simulation to obtain the critical values.

    To specify the method used to compute the critical value, enter one of the following commands (the default is ASTM)

      SET KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST CRITICAL VALUES ASTM
      SET KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST CRITICAL VALUES SIMULATION

    If n > 50, the simulation method will be used.

Syntax 1:
    KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST <y>
                            <SUBSET/EXCEPT/FOR qualification>
    where <y> is the response variable being tested;
    and where the <SUBSET/EXCEPT/FOR qualification> is optional.
Syntax 2:
    MULTIPLE KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST <y1> ... <yk>
                            <SUBSET/EXCEPT/FOR qualification>
    where <y1> ... <yk> is a list of up to k response variables;
    and where the <SUBSET/EXCEPT/FOR qualification> is optional.

    This syntax performs the kurtosis outlier test on <y1>, then on <y2>, and so on. Up to 30 response variables can be specified.

    Note that the syntax

      MULTIPLE KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST Y1 TO Y4

    is supported. This is equivalent to

      MULTIPLE KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4
Syntax 3:
    REPLICATED KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST <y> <x1> ... <xk>
                            <SUBSET/EXCEPT/FOR qualification>
    where <y> is the response variable;
                <x1> ... <xk> is a list of up to k group-id variables;
    and where the <SUBSET/EXCEPT/FOR qualification> is optional.

    This syntax performs a cross-tabulation of <x1> ... <xk> and performs a kurtosis outlier test for each unique combination of cross-tabulated values. For example, if X1 has 3 levels and X2 has 2 levels, there will be a total of 6 kurtosis outlier tests performed.

    Up to six group-id variables can be specified.

    Note that the syntax

      REPLICATED KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST Y X1 TO X4

    is supported. This is equivalent to

      REPLICATED KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST Y X1 X2 X3 X4
Examples:
    KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST Y1
    MULTIPLE KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST Y1 Y2 Y3
    REPLICATED KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST Y X1 X2
    SKEWNESS KURTOSIS TEST Y1 SUBSET TAG > 2
Note:
    Tests for outliers are dependent on knowing the distribution of the data. The kurtosis outlier test assumes that the data come from an approximately normal distribution. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that the kurtosis outlier test be complemented with a normal probability test. If the data are not approximately normally distributed, then the kurtosis outlier test may be detecting the non-normality of the data rather than the presence of an outlier.
Note:
    You can specify the number of digits in the skewness outlier test output with the command

      SET WRITE DECIMALS <value>
Note:
    The KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST command automatically saves the following parameters:

      STATVAL = the value of the test statistic
      STATDCF = the CDF value of the test statistic
      PVALUE = the p-value of the test statistic
      CUTOFF80 = the 80 percent point of the reference distribution
      CUTOFF90 = the 90 percent point of the reference distribution
      CUTOFF95 = the 95 percent point of the reference distribution
      CUTOF975 = the 97.5 percent point of the reference distribution
      CUTOFF99 = = the 99 percent point of the reference distribution

    The STATCDF and PVALUE are only saved when the simulation method is used to obtain critical values. If the ASTM method is used to obtain critical values, the CUTOFF80 and CUTOF975 values are not saved.

    If the MULTIPLE or REPLICATED option is used, these values will be written to the file "dpst1f.dat" instead.

Note:
    In addition to the KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST command, the following commands can also be used:

      LET A = KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST Y
      LET A = KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST CDF Y
      LET A = KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST PVALUE Y
      LET A = KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST INDEX Y

      LET ALPHA = <value>
      LET A = KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST CRITICAL VALUE Y

    The KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST, KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST CDF, and KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST PVALUE return the values of the test statistic, the cdf of the test statistic and the pvalue of the test statistic, respectively. For the KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST CDF and KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST PVALUE commands, the simulation method will be used. Otherwise, the method specified by the SET KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST CRITICAL VALUE command will be used.

    The KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST INDEX returns the row index of the most extreme value in the response variable. The most extreme value is defined as the value furtherest from the mean.

    The KURTOSIS OUTLIER TEST CRITICAL VALUE returns the critical value for the specified value of ALPHA. If ALPHA is not specified, it will be set to 0.05. Note that if the ASTM method is specified for the critical values, only a few select values for alpha are supported (0.01, 0.05 and 0.10).

    In addition to the above LET command, built-in statistics are supported for 30+ different commands (enter HELP STATISTICS for details).

Default:
    The ASTM method is used to obtain critical values
Synonyms:
    None
Related Commands: Reference:
    E178 - 16A (2016), "Standard Practice for Dealing with Outlying Observations", ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, USA.

    Ferguson, T.S. (1961), "On the Rejection of Outliers," Fourth Berkeley Symposium on Mathematical Statistics and Probability, edited by Jerzy Neyman, University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA.

    Ferguson, T.S. (1961), "Rules for Rejection of Outliers," Revue Inst. Int. de Stat., RINSA, Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 29-43.

Applications:
    Outlier Detection
Implementation Date:
    2019/10
Program:
     
    . Step 1:   Read the data (from ASTM E-178 document)
    .
    read y
    -1.40
    -0.44
    -0.30
    -0.24
    -0.22
    -0.13
    -0.05
    0.06
    0.10
    0.18
    0.20
    0.39
    0.48
    0.63
    1.01
    end of data
    .
    . Step 2:   Compute the statistics
    .
    let stat = kurtosis outlier test y
    set kurtosis outlier test critical values astm
    let cv1 = kurtosis outlier test critical value y
    set kurtosis outlier test critical values simulation
    let cv2 = kurtosis outlier test critical value y
    .
    let pval = kurtosis outlier test pvalue y
    let statcdf = kurtosis outlier test cdf y
    let iindx = kurtosis outlier test index y
    .
    set write decimals 3
    print stat cv1 cv2 pval statcdf iindx
    .
    set kurtosis outlier test critical values astm
    kurtosis outlier test y
    set kurtosis outlier test critical values simulation
    kurtosis outlier test y
        
    The following output is generated
     PARAMETERS AND CONSTANTS--
    
        STAT    --          2.529
        CV1     --          2.145
        CV2     --          2.150
        PVAL    --          0.037
        STATCDF --          0.967
        IINDX   --          1.000
     
    THE FORTRAN COMMON CHARACTER VARIABLE KURTOUTL HAS JUST BEEN SET TO ASTM
     
                Kurtosis Test for Outliers
                 (Assumption: Normality)
     
    Response Variable: Y
     
    H0: The most extreme point is not
        an outlier
    Ha: The most extreme point is not
        an outlier
    Potential outlier value tested:                  -1.400
    ID for potential outlier:                             1
     
    Summary Statistics:
    Number of Observations:                              15
    Sample Minimum:                                  -1.400
    Sample Maximum:                                   1.010
    Sample Mean:                                      0.018
    Sample SD:                                        0.551
    Sample Kurtosis:                                  2.529
     
    Kurtosis Outlier Test Statistic Value:            2.529
     
     
    Conclusions (Upper 1-Tailed Test)
    -------------------------------------------------------------
      Alpha    CDF      Statistic   Critical Value     Conclusion
    -------------------------------------------------------------
        10%    90%          2.529            1.422      Reject H0
         5%    95%          2.529            2.145      Reject H0
         1%    99%          2.529            3.887      Accept H0
     
     
     
    Critical Values Based on ASTM E-178 Tables
     
     
    THE FORTRAN COMMON CHARACTER VARIABLE KURTOUTL HAS JUST BEEN SET TO SIMU
     
                Kurtosis Test for Outliers
                 (Assumption: Normality)
     
    Response Variable: Y
     
    H0: The most extreme point is not
        an outlier
    Ha: The most extreme point is not
        an outlier
    Potential outlier value tested:                  -1.400
    ID for potential outlier:                             1
     
    Summary Statistics:
    Number of Observations:                              15
    Sample Minimum:                                  -1.400
    Sample Maximum:                                   1.010
    Sample Mean:                                      0.018
    Sample SD:                                        0.551
    Sample Kurtosis:                                  2.529
     
    Kurtosis Outlier Test Statistic Value:            2.529
    CDF Value:                                        0.965
    P-Value                                           0.035
     
     
     
    Conclusions (Upper 1-Tailed Test)
    -------------------------------------------------------------
      Alpha    CDF      Statistic   Critical Value     Conclusion
    -------------------------------------------------------------
        20%    80%          2.529            0.709      Reject H0
        10%    90%          2.529            1.414      Reject H0
         5%    95%          2.529            2.138      Reject H0
       2.5%  97.5%          2.529            2.886      Accept H0
         1%    99%          2.529            3.969      Accept H0
       0.5%  99.5%          2.529            4.683      Accept H0
     
     
     
    Critical Values Based on 50,000 Simulations
        
Date created: 01/22/2020
Last updated: 12/11/2023

Please email comments on this WWW page to alan.heckert@nist.gov.