Hi Bethel,
The `multcompare` function in MATLAB, when using the `'tukey-kramer'` option for the `'ctype'` parameter, implements the Tukey-Kramer method for multiple comparisons. This method is an extension of Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test and is specifically designed to handle unequal sample sizes (unbalanced designs).
The confusion often arises because both Tukey's HSD and the Tukey-Kramer method are similar, but they differ in their applicability:
- Tukey's HSD is typically used for balanced designs, where each group has the same number of observations.
- Tukey-Kramer is an adaptation that can be used for unbalanced designs, accommodating different group sizes.
In the context of MATLAB's `multcompare` function, it consistently applies the Tukey-Kramer method regardless of whether the design is balanced or unbalanced. This ensures that the method is robust and applicable to a wider range of scenarios, including those with unequal group sizes.
Therefore, if you are using the `'tukey-kramer'` option in `multcompare`, you are always utilizing the Tukey-Kramer method, and the help text is not misleading but rather inclusive of the scenarios where the method is applicable.
Please refer to the following documentation for further details:
