Application of Dominance Analysis and ANY Polarization Index Analysis in Ordinal Data
10.11783/j.issn.1002-3674.2025.03.002
- VernacularTitle:等级数据优势分析与极化指数分析的应用
- Author:
Chao LI
1
;
Lili YANG
;
Shiyong QI
Author Information
1. 天津医科大学肿瘤医院(300060)
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Ordinal data;
Dominance analysis;
Polarization index
- From:
Chinese Journal of Health Statistics
2025;42(3):328-333
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To address the limitations of traditional nonparametric methods in analyzing ordinal data,which often overlook nonlinear characteristics and polarization trends,this study explores the application value of dominance analysis and the ANY polarization index in quantifying distributional differences and inequality.Methods Simulated Likert-scale datasets(with varying medians)and real-world data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)were analyzed using dominance analysis and the ANY index.Their performance in revealing distributional heterogeneity and polarization was compared with conventional rank-based tests.Results Dominance analysis effectively distinguished inter-group differences in overall levels(F-dominance)and internal inequality(S-dominance)through cumulative distribution function(CDF).The ANY index captured polarization trends by adjusting parameters α(emphasizing lower percentiles)and β(emphasizing upper percentiles).In NHANES data,the new methods identified significantly higher low-end polarization in males'self-rated health,whereas traditional Mann-Whitney U tests showed no statistical significance.Conclusion Dominance analysis and the ANY index overcome the oversimplified assumptions of conventional methods,offering refined tools for analyzing ordinal data in health policy-making,particularly in optimizing resource allocation and addressing health disparities among vulnerable populations.
