A new multivariate two-sample test using regular minimum-weight spanning subgraphs

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A new nonparametric test is proposed for the multivariate two-sample problem. Similar to Rosenbaum’s cross-match test, each observation is considered to be a vertex of a complete undirected weighted graph; interpoint distances are edge weights. A minimum-weight, r-regular subgraph is constructed, and the mean cross-count test statistic is equal to the number of edges in the subgraph containing one observation from the first group and one from the second, divided by r. Unequal distributions will tend to result in fewer edges that connect vertices between different groups. The mean cross-count test is sensitive to a wide range of distribution differences and has impressive power characteristics. We derive the first and second moments of the mean cross-count test, and note that simulation studies suggest this test statistic is asymptotically normal regardless of underlying data distributions. A small simulation study compares the power of the mean cross-count test to Hotelling’s T2 test and to the cross-match test. This new test is a more powerful generalization of Rosenbaum’s test (the cross-match test is the case r = 1) and constitutes a noteworthy addition to the class of multivariate, nonparametric two-sample tests.