Difference between two groups

Ordinal Data

Within Participant Between Participant

Wilcoxon signed-ranks test Wilcoxon rank-sum test

Rank scores from lowest to highest with

the lowest scores receiving the smallest
number. If two individuals score the same,
Compute difference between scores for
they receive the same rank. The highest
each indivdual
rank should have highest score and should
be equal to number of individuals. The
sum of ranks should be equal to N(N+1)/2.

Rank the absolute values of the difference Sum the ranks for the group that you
scores expect to be lower.

Assign each rank the sign from the

Compare the sum with the critical value
difference scores calculated previously.
from table A.6. If it is less than or equal to,
Was it positive or negative before taking
it is significant.
absolute value?

Sum the positive rank and then sum the

negative ranks.

Two-Tailed One-Tailed

tobt is equal to the smaller of the summed tobt is the sum of the signed ranks
ranks. Equal to or less than to be predicted to be smaller. Equal to or less
signifcant. than crit value to be significant.