F STATISTIC AND COMPARABLE MEASURES IN LINEAR FREE-ENERGY RELATIONSHIP FITTINGS

The properties and validity of a goodness-of-fit statistic, f, previously employed in dual-substituent linear free-energy equation fittings are carefully examined and verified. Confidence level tables are presented for f ratio comparisons and examples given for their use. These confidence level measures constitute an original (for linear free-energy applications) means of judging whether one system of parametrization ultimately based upon experimental observation is significantly (statistically) better than another similarly derived in given correlation applications. Brief analysis of relationships to other currently favored measures, most of which are not directly comparative, is presented. The value and means of testing independence among multiple variable sets are also given brief scrutiny. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.