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The binning analysis: Towards a better significance test

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Abstract

We demonstrate that the problems encountered with the binning analysis essentially lie in the significance test which is used. We review and analyse most of the existing significance tests and show that the use of those based on randomization processes considerably improves the situation. For the one-dimensional binning analysis, we apply the ‘2 within 4’ randomization test, whereas for the two- and the three-dimensional binning analyses we introduce two innovations: the ‘4 within 16’ randomization test and the ‘8 within 64’ randomization test, respectively.

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Gosset, E., Louis, B. The binning analysis: Towards a better significance test. Astrophys Space Sci 120, 263–306 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00649941

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