Testing for Isotropy in circular Distributions

Author: Hawley, Kevin G.
Abstract: It is possible that one of the attributes of good astrology’ is in being able to deduce meaning from pattern. But before we expend time and energies in wrestling over astrological meaning, should we .first ask “what is pattern ? ” A corollary would be, if pattern apparently exists, is “how probable is it for this structure or geometry to arise? “To use the well-tried and tested yardstick of p = 0.05, pattern is assumed to be present in the geometric arrangement of data points if it occurs 5% of the time or less. Then begins the wedding of celestial geometry with astrological meaning. sometimes beautifully so. Coherent astrological symbolism crossed with statistical significance offers another kind of marriage and is redolent with beauty. Two tests are described which may help in the hunt for astrological meaning. The function of these tests is to quantify the amount of structure in a given data set. It may be possible to answer the time-honoured question “are there really faces in the fire?”
Keywords: pattern, structure, geometry
Notes:
Publication: Correlation: Astrological Association Journal of Research In Astrology
Issue: Volume 19, Issue 1
Dated: 2000
Pages: pages 34 – 41