Excel-oriented calculator for calculating results of entropy analysis of data distributed by categories

Abstract

The goal of the work. Development of EXCEL-oriented calculator for calculating the results of entropy analysis of data, which are distributed by categories. The subject of research is histograms of arbitrary distribution laws and conjugation tables 2×2. Research methods: Entropy and information analysis of histograms of arbitrary distribution laws and conjugation tables. The obtained results. It is proposed to use methods of entropy analysis for the analysis of data distributed by categories; information on the structure of the EXCEL-oriented calculator designed for this purpose is given. The calculator makes it possible to calculate entropy characteristics of histograms, namely: histogram entropy, histogram dispersion, histogram confidence intervals, diversity information index. The calculator performs a pairwise comparison of entropies of histograms using the Hutcheson method, determines Hellinger and Kullback-Leibler distances between histograms of arbitrary distribution laws and thus complements the chi-square criterion, determines the informational correlation coefficient. The correspondence between the Pearson correlation coefficient and the information correlation coefficient is established by the method of statistical modeling. For 2×2 conjugation tables, the calculator makes it possible to estimate the significance of the interaction between the row factor and the column factor. The calculator determines the values of conditional entropies for 2×2 conjugation tables. The proposed calculator fills the gaps in existing software products and can be used to process data distributed by categories using entropy analysis methods. It is shown that entropy methods of analysis are appropriate to use in cases where histograms determine arbitrary distribution laws.