Key points at a glance
- Verify pairs and differences.
- Consider symmetry of differences.
- Report statistic and direction.
Confirm that observations are paired
The signed-rank test uses within-person or deliberately matched differences. It is not the Mann-Whitney test for independent groups. Pair differences should be independent of one another; inspect their distribution and symmetry.
Create traceable differences
Example: Eighteen students rate self-efficacy before and after a workshop. Calculate after minus before for each person; inspect zero differences and missing observations. Two lists collected at different times do not automatically form valid pairs.
Choose the test deliberately
The procedure ranks absolute differences and restores their signs. It does not require the paired t test’s normality assumption, but the usual location interpretation needs an appropriate symmetry assumption. Strongly asymmetric differences may call for a sign test or another approach.
Report without overclaiming
State usable pair count, before/after or difference summaries, statistic and p-value. Describe direction and a suitable effect measure for your software. A significant change alone does not establish that the workshop caused it.
Final submission context
Formal details can feel like a separate writing task, but they matter just as much for a printed submission. Anything missing, misplaced or inconsistently formatted in the document will also appear in the bound copy.
Use this guide together with your cover page, table of contents, page numbers, source notes and appendices. Prepare the final PDF for printing and binding only after the complete file has been checked.
Practical check before PDF export
- Do headings, chapter structure and page numbers match?
- Are sources, figures and tables included completely?
- Are required elements such as declarations, appendices or the cover page included where required?
- Did you open and check the final PDF after exporting it?
Checklist
- Pairs matched correctly.
- Differences plotted.
- Zeros and missingness checked.
- Causal claim restrained.
Common mistakes
- Testing independent groups.
- Silently using incomplete pairs.
- Treating before/after as causal proof.
Prepare the finished thesis for submission
Once the content and university requirements are checked, review your PDF and the available printing and binding options.
Review printing optionsRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
Is it the same as Mann-Whitney?
No. Signed-rank handles paired differences; Mann-Whitney handles independent groups.
Must differences be normal?
No, but inspect the assumptions about differences and symmetry.
What about zero differences?
Report how the chosen software handles them.