Should the median test be retired from general use?

Citation
B. Freidlin et Jl. Gastwirth, Should the median test be retired from general use?, AM STATISTN, 54(3), 2000, pp. 161-164
Citations number
36
Categorie Soggetti
Mathematics
Journal title
AMERICAN STATISTICIAN
ISSN journal
00031305 → ACNP
Volume
54
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
161 - 164
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-1305(200008)54:3<161:STMTBR>2.0.ZU;2-V
Abstract
Although several authors have indicated that the median test has low power in small samples, it continues to be presented in many statistical textbook s, included in a number of popular statistical software packages, and used in a variety of application areas, We present results of a power simulation study that shows that the median test has noticeably lower power, even for the double exponential distribution for which it is asymptotically most po werful, than other readily available rank tests. We suggest that the median test be "retired" from routine use and recommend alternative rank tests th at have superior power over a relatively large family of symmetric distribu tions.