Selection of the best with a preliminary test for two-parameter exponential distributions

This paper deals with the problem of selecting the best population from among k(≥ 2) two-parameter exponential populations. New selection procedures are proposed for selecting the unique best. The procedures include preliminary tests which allow the xperimenter to have an option to not select if the statistical evidence is not significant. Two probabilities, the probability to make a selection and the probability of a correct selection, are controlled by these selection procedures. Comparisons between the proposed selection procedures and certain earlier existing procedures are also made. The results show the superiority of the proposed selection procedures in terms of the required sample size.