Reply to ‘Comment on “Magnitude conversion problem using general orthogonal regression” by H. R. Wason, Ranjit Das and M. L. Sharma’ by Paolo Gasperini and Barbara Lolli

Abstract

We completely reject the conclusions of P. Gasperini and Barbara Lolli made in the concluding remarks of their comments on the methodology and results of our paper (Wason et al. 2012). Based on reasoning and comparisons made between true values on the general orthogonal regression (GOR) line and the estimates of the variable given by the two procedures, we would like to reiterate that the proposed methodology is sound and provides improved estimates of the true points lying on the GOR line compared to the commonly used procedure for magnitude conversion. Hence, the use of the proposed method based on GOR in Wason et al. (2012) is suggested for magnitude conversion of data sets having error variance ratio of magnitudes (η) less than or equal to 2.5. However, for η > 2.5, the commonly used procedure of getting the unbiased estimates using observed values of the predictor variable in the GOR relation shall yield better estimates.