Articles on sequential tests

Comparison of the statistical power of sequential tests: SPRT, AGILE, and Always Valid Inference

Power and Average Sample Size of Sequential Tests

In A/B testing sequential tests are gradually becoming the norm due to the increased efficiency and flexibility that they grant practitioners. In most practical scenarios sequential tests offer a balance of risks and rewards superior to that of an equivalent fixed sample test. Sequential monitoring achieves this superiority by trading statistical power for the ability […] Read more…

Posted in A/B testing, AGILE A/B testing, Statistics | Also tagged , , , , ,

Fully Sequential vs Group Sequential Tests

Sequential Testing Compared

What is the best design for a statistical test with sequential evaluation of the data at multiple points in time? This is a question anyone who has realized that unaccounted for peeking with intent to stop is the bane of A/B testing eventually comes to ask. So how does one go about answering that? This […] Read more…

Posted in AGILE A/B testing, Statistics | Also tagged , , , ,

Error Spending in Sequential Testing Explained

Sequential Hypothesis Testing with Efficacy and Futility Bound

Sequential analysis of experimental data from A/B tests has been quite prominent in recent years due to the myriad of Bayesian solutions offered by big industry players. However, this type of sequential analysis is not sequential testing proper as these solutions have generally abandoned the idea of testing and therefore error control, substituting it for […] Read more…

Posted in A/B testing, AGILE A/B testing, Statistics | Also tagged , , , , ,

The A/B Testing Guide to Surviving on a Deserted Island

AB Testing Survival Guide Desert Island

The secluded and isolated deserted island setting has been used as the stage for many hypothetical explanations in economics and philosophy with the scarcity of things that can be developed as resources being a central feature. Scarcity and the need to keep risk low while aiming to improve one’s situation is what make it a […] Read more…

Posted in A/B testing, Conversion optimization, Statistics | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Designing successful A/B tests in Email Marketing

The process of A/B testing (a.k.a. online controlled experiments) is well-established in conversion rate optimization for all kinds of online properties and is widely used by e-commerce websites. On this blog I have already written in depth about the statistics involved as well as the ROI calculations in terms of balancing risk and reward for […] Read more…

Posted in A/B testing, Conversion optimization, Statistical significance, Statistics | Also tagged , , , , , , , , ,

20-80% Faster A/B Tests? Is it real?

Percent Runs and Stopping Stage 1Delta

I got a question today about our AGILE A/B testing calculator and the statistics behind it and realized that I’m yet to write a dedicated post explaining the efficiency gains from using the method in more detail. This despite the fact that these speed gains are clearly communicated and verified through simulation results presented in our AGILE […] Read more…

Posted in A/B testing, AGILE A/B testing, Statistics | Also tagged , , , , , , ,

Efficient AB Testing with the AGILE Statistical Method

AGILE AB Testing

Don’t we all want to run tests as quickly as possible, reaching results as conclusive and as certain as possible? Don’t we all want to minimize the number of users we send to an inferior variant and to implement a variant with positive lift as quickly as possible? Don’t we all want to get rid of […] Read more…

Posted in A/B testing, AGILE A/B testing, Conversion optimization, Statistics | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,