WILCOXON SIGNED RANK TEST

INTRODUCTION

The Wilcoxon signed-rank test is the nonparametric test equivalent to the dependent t-test. As

the Wilcoxon signed-rank test does not assume normality in the data, it can be used when this

assumption has been violated and the use of the dependent t-test is inappropriate. It is used to

compare two sets of scores that come from the same participants. This can occur when we

wish to investigate any change in scores from one time point to another, or when individuals

are subjected to more than one condition.

For example, you could use a Wilcoxon signed-rank test to understand whether there was a

difference in smokers' daily cigarette consumption before and after a 6-week hypnotherapy

programme (i.e., your dependent variable would be "daily cigarette consumption", and your

two related groups would be the cigarette consumption values "before" and "after" the

hypnotherapy programme). You could also use a Wilcoxon signed-rank test to understand

whether there was a difference in reaction times under two different lighting conditions (i.e.,

your dependent variable would be "reaction time", measured in milliseconds, and your two

related groups would be reaction times in a room using "blue light" versus "red light").

This "quick start" guide shows you how to carry out a Wilcoxon signed-rank test using SPSS

Statistics, as well as interpret and report the results from this test. However, before we

introduce you to this procedure, you need to understand the different assumptions that your

data must meet in order for a Wilcoxon signed-rank test to give you a valid result. We discuss

these assumptions next.

Assumptions

When you choose to analyse your data using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test, part of the process

involves checking to make sure that the data you want to analyse can actually be analysed
using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. You need to do this because it is only appropriate to use a

Wilcoxon signed-rank test if your data "passes" three assumptions that are required for a

Wilcoxon signed-rank test to give you a valid result. The first two assumptions relate to your

study design and the types of variables you measured. The third assumption reflects the

nature of your data and is the one assumption you test using SPSS Statistics. These three

assumptions as briefly explained below:

Assumption #1: Your dependent variable should be measured at the ordinal or continuous

level. Examples of ordinal variables include Likert items (e.g., a 7-point item from "strongly

agree" through to "strongly disagree"), amongst other ways of ranking categories (e.g., a 5-

point item explaining how much a customer liked a product, ranging from "Not very much"

to "Yes, a lot"). Examples of continuous variables (i.e., interval or ratio variables) include

revision time (measured in hours), intelligence (measured using IQ score), exam performance

(measured from 0 to 100), weight (measured in kg), and so forth. You can learn more about

ordinal and continuous variables in our article: Types of Variables.

Assumption #2: Your independent variable should consist of two categorical, "related

groups" or "matched pairs". "Related groups" indicates that the same subjects are present in

both groups. The reason that it is possible to have the same subjects in each group is because

each subject has been measured on two occasions on the same dependent variable. For

example, you might have measured 10 individuals' performance in a spelling test (the

dependent variable) before and after they underwent a new form of computerized teaching

method to improve spelling. You would like to know if the computer training improved their

spelling performance. The first related group consists of the subjects at the beginning (prior

to) the computerized spelling training and the second related group consists of the same

subjects, but now at the end of the computerized training. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test can

also be used to compare different subjects within a "matched-pairs" study design, but this
does not happen very often. Nonetheless, to learn more about the different study designs you

use with a Wilcoxon signed-rank test, see our enhanced Wilcoxon signed-rank test guide.

Assumption #3: The distribution of the differences between the two related groups (i.e., the

distribution of differences between the scores of both groups of the independent variable; for

example, the reaction time in a room with "blue lighting" and a room with "red lighting")

needs to be symmetrical in shape. If the distribution of differences is symmetrically shaped,

you can analyse your study using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. In practice, checking for this

assumption just adds a little bit more time to your analysis, requiring you to click a few more

buttons in SPSS Statistics when performing your analysis, as well as think a little bit more

about your data, but it is not a difficult task. However, do not be surprised if, when analysing

your own data using SPSS Statistics, this assumption is violated (i.e., is not met). This is not

uncommon when working with real-world data rather than textbook examples, which often

only show you how to carry out a Wilcoxon signed-rank test when everything goes well!

However, even when your data fails this assumption, there is often a solution to overcome

this, such as transforming your data to achieve a symmetrically-shaped distribution of

differences (not a preferred option) or running a sign test instead of the Wilcoxon signed-rank

test. If you are unsure of the procedures in SPSS Statistics to test this assumption or how to

interpret the SPSS Statistics output, we show you how in our enhanced Wilcoxon signed-rank

test guide, which you can access by subscribing to Laerd Statistics.

In the section, Test Procedure in SPSS Statistics, we illustrate the SPSS Statistics procedure

to perform a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. First, we introduce the example that is used in this

"quick start" guide.

 QUESTION

The following data describes the trait anxiety scores among students before and after

Psychodynamic Intervention. Find out if Psychodynamic Intervention had a positive effect on

stress among students.

S.No Initial Trait Anxiety score before Trait Anxiety Score after
s Psychodynamic Intervention Psychodynamic Intervention

1. SR 65 31

2. FG 45 34

3. BN 56 36

4. MN 55 36

5. OP 58 32

6. DS 67 43

7. GH 65 35

8. JI 67 34

9. UY 87 45

10. TR 54 44

11. DF 55 33

12. DS 66 44

13. XC 76 45

14. VB 68 34

15. NM 67 44

16. OP 66 45

17. DD 64 44

18. DC 65 33

19. VD 67 34

20. SS 58 36
VARIABLE: Paired Variable: Trait Anxiety (Before and After Psychodynamic Intervention).

HYPOTHESIS:

Null hypothesis (H0): There is no significant difference in trait anxiety scores among before

and after Psychodynamic Intervention among students.

Alternative hypothesis (H1): There is a significant difference in trait anxiety scores among

before and after Psychodynamic Intervention among students indicating a positive effect on

stress levels.

PROCEDURE 1

OPEN IBM STATISTICS

ENTER DATA VIEW AND

VARIABLE VIEW

SELECT ANALYSE
SELECT NON PARAMETRIC
TEST, SELECT RELATED
SAMPLE

GO TO FIELDS AND SELECT THE

TEST VARIABLES (TAS BEFORE AND
AFTER PSYCHODYNAMIC
INTERVENTION)

GO TO SETTINGS

SELECT CUSTOMISE
TESTS
SELECT WILCOXON
MATCHED PAIR SIGN
RANK

CLICK RUN
 PROCEDURE 2

OPEN IBM STATISTICS

ENTER DATA VIEW

AND VARIABLE VIEW

SELECT ANALYSE

SELECT NON PARAMETRIC

TEST, SELECT LEGACY
DIALOG

SELECT TWO RELATED

SAMPLE
SELECT THE TEST VARIABLE
PAIRS (TAS BEFORE AND AFTER
PSYCHODYNAMIC
INTERVENTION)
 SELECT THE TEST
TYPES

WILCOXON
MATCHED PAIR

CLICK OK

DATA VIEW AND VARIABLE VIEW

OUTPUT TABLE

DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS

Descriptive Statistics

N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation

Trait Anxiety Score Before

20 45.00 87.00 63.5500 8.85839
Psychodynamic Intervention
Trait Anxiety Score After
20 31.00 45.00 38.1000 5.31037
Psychodynamic Intervention
Valid N (listwise) 20

WILCOXON SIGNED RANK TEST

Ranks

N Mean Rank Sum of Ranks

a
Trait Anxiety Score After Negative Ranks 20 10.50 210.00

Psychodynamic Intervention - Trait Positive Ranks 0b .00 .00

Anxiety Score Before Ties 0c

Psychodynamic Intervention Total 20

a. Trait Anxiety Score After Psychodynamic Intervention < Trait Anxiety Score Before Psychodynamic Intervention
b. Trait Anxiety Score After Psychodynamic Intervention > Trait Anxiety Score Before Psychodynamic Intervention
c. Trait Anxiety Score After Psychodynamic Intervention = Trait Anxiety Score Before Psychodynamic Intervention

Test Statisticsa

Trait Anxiety
Score After
Psychodynamic
Intervention -
Trait Anxiety
Score Before
Psychodynamic
Intervention

Z -3.922b
Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) .000

a. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test

b. Based on positive ranks.

INTERPRETATION

DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS

The data shows the trait anxiety scores of 20 students.

The minimum and maximum scores for trait anxiety score before Psychodynamic

Intervention are 45.00 and 87.00 respectively.

The minimum and maximum scores for trait anxiety score after Psychodynamic Intervention

are 31.00 and 45.00 respectively.

The mean score of scores for trait anxiety score before and after Psychodynamic Intervention

are 63.5500 and 38.1000 respectively.

The standard deviation of scores for trait anxiety score before and after Psychodynamic

Intervention are 8.85839 and 5.31037 respectively.

WILCOXON TEST INTERPRETATION

For the above study, 20 students were administered with a test and then the trait anxiety

scores were found out. A before and after Psychodynamic Intervention of each student was

taken on the scale. The N scores before and after intervention was Negative rank = 20 and

Positive rank = 0; Mean rank is = 10.50 and 0.00; Z = -3.922; p = 0.00. Through this the

Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test shows that the observed difference between both measurements

is significant. Thus, we can reject the Null Hypothesis that both samples are from the same

population, and we might assume that the Psychodynamic Intervention before and after the

Trait Anxiety scores is significant.