The Comparison of Means of Sets of Observations from Sections of Independent Stochastic Series

Summary A method of applying the formula for the sampling variance of the mean of a section of stationary time series, using an analysis of half the squared differences between sample values, is developed. The formula and method are generalized for application to the comparison of means of several independent stretches of series, with and without superimposed systematic patterns of variation, and to more general series such as spatial configurations of data. The methods are applied to some observed series.