Analysis of Sensitivity Experiments - A Primer

Abstract

This report is expository in nature and is intended to explain the basic concept of a sensitivity experiment as well as the analysis of its data. These experiments are widely applicable to engineering problems that involve binary (pass/fail of go/no-go) outcomes. We begin by introducing the simple idea behind a sensitivity experiment; then we describe the basic 'Up and Down' testing method. Particular emphasis is placed upon the parameter this procedure is intended to identify. Next, we describe Garwood's method, a type of Probit analysis, for analyzing sensitivity test data. A specialized version of this scheme is derived for stable digital computation. Confidence interval estimation is discussed along with an analysis of variance. A set of example problems are solved; our results are compared with archival solutions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA492228

Entities

People

  • Douglas V. Nance

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Algorithms
  • Data Science
  • Distribution Functions
  • Engineering
  • Factor Analysis
  • Information Science
  • Mathematics
  • Normal Distribution
  • Probability
  • Probability Density Functions
  • Random Variables
  • Statistical Algorithms
  • Statistical Distributions
  • Statistics
  • Test Methods

Readers

  • Regression Analysis.
  • Systems Analysis and Design