title: Application of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to seasonal phenomena may be inappropriate.
abstract: The Kolmogorov-Smirnov one-sample test is sometimes used to test seasonality in births or other annually cyclic phenomena. However, it is shown that the maximum deviation from expected (D) may differ by a factor of almost two if the cycle is initiated in different months. Thus, different results are possible from the same data. Unless there is a logical initiation point in a cycle, it is probably better to use other nonparametric statistical tests.
mesh_terms: D001699:Biometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012621:Seasons