Sample Size for Testing Homogeneity of Two a Priori Dependent Binomial Populations Using the Bayesian Approach

This paper establishes new methodology for calculating the optimal sample size when a hypothesis test between two binomial populations is performed. The problem is addressed from the Bayesian point of view, with prior information expressed through a Dirichlet distribution. The approach of this paper sets an upper bound for the posterior risk and then chooses as “optimum ”the combined sample size for which the likelihood of the data does not satisfy this bound. The combined sample size is divided equally between the two binomials. Numerical examples are discussed for which the two proportions are equal to either a fixed or to a random value.