Data considerations for Equivalence Test for a 2x2 Crossover Design

If your sample sizes are greater than 20 and the underlying distribution is unimodal and continuous, the test performs appropriately even if data are mildly skewed. If your sample sizes are less than 20, you should graph the data to check for skewness and unusual observations. If the data are severely skewed or have many unusual observations, use caution when you interpret the results.

In statistics, random samples are used to make generalizations, or inferences, about a population. If your data were not collected randomly, your results may not represent the population. For more information, go to Randomness in samples of data.

If you have only one set of paired observations that were not collected using a 2x2 crossover design, use Equivalence Test with Paired Data.

If you have two independent samples (such as samples from two different groups of patients in a parallel study design), use 2-Sample Equivalence Test. For more information, go to How are dependent and independent samples different?.

Your sample should be large enough that the test has sufficient power to demonstrate equivalence when it is true. If the equivalence test has low power, you may mistakenly conclude that the difference (or ratio) is not within your equivalence limits when it actually is. To determine the appropriate sample size for your equivalence test, go to Power and Sample Size for 2x2 Crossover Design Equivalence Test.