EDF_STATS

Purpose

This function calculates a variety of statistics to characterize
the discrepancy between 1D data and a model for the distribution
from which the data were drawn. Each statistic is based on the
empirical distribution function (i.e. the cdf of the data). Such
statistics can be used to evaluate whether a model distribution is
consistent with the data.
In what follows, Fn(x) is the empirical distribution function (edf)
and F(x) is the model cdf. Currently, four statistics are
implemented:
1) The Kolmogorov-Smirnov Statistic: max(|F(x) - Fn(x)|)
2) An Anderson-Darling style statistic:
Mean( (Fn(x) - F(x))^2 / (F(x) * (1 - F(x))) )
3) The Kuyper Statistic: max(F(x) - Fn(x)) + max(Fn(x) - F(x))
4) The mean absolute deviation:
Mean( |Fn(x) - F(x)| )
Note that statistic 2 is designed to be more sensitive to
discrepancies at low and high values of x than is the KS stat
Note also that the Kuyper statistic is meant to be used for values
of x wrapped onto a circle. See Numerical Recipes.

Calling Sequence

result = edf_stats(data, model, [ks = ks, ad = ad, ky = ky, mad = mad])
or
result = edf_stats(data, model, [/ks or /ad or /ky, /mad])

Inputs

data: A vector of data values
model: The string name of a function which calculates the cdf of
the model distribution. The function must have the calling
sequence result = model(x, _extra = extra), and must be
written to handle x as a scalar or vector. Extra keywords to
edf_stats will be passed to this function.

Keyword Parameters

ks: If non zero or set to a named variable, will calculate and
return the ks statistic to that variable.

ad: Same as above, for the Anderson-Darling statistic.
ky: Same as above, for the Kuyper statistic
mad: Same as above, for the mediat absolute deviation

Outputs

If only one of ks, ad, ky, or mad are set, then the return value is
that particular statistic. Otherwise, the KS statistic is returned.

Modification History

June 2009: Written by Chris Beaumont
July 2009: Added mad statistic