t-test

Statistical Test: t-test

Definition: The t-test is a statistical test used to compare the means of two groups and determine
whether they are significantly different from each other. It assesses whether the difference
between the sample means is statistically significant or just due to chance.

“Layman’s Terms”: The t-test helps us determine if there is a real difference between two groups
or if the observed difference is just due to random variation.

When to Use the T-Test: Use the t-test when you have two independent groups and want to
compare their means.

Sample Problem:
A researcher wants to know if there is a significant difference in exam scores between students
who received extra tutoring and those who did not. They collect data from two groups: Group A
(n=30) received extra tutoring and Group B (n=30) did not. The mean exam score for Group A is
85 and the mean exam score for Group B is 80.
To test the hypothesis that there is no difference in exam scores between the two groups, the
researcher conducts a t-test. The calculated t-value is 2.16 and the critical t-value at α = 0.05 for
a two-tailed test with 58 degrees of freedom is ±2.00.

How to Report:
The results of the t-test indicate a significant difference in exam scores between students who
received extra tutoring (M = 85) and those who did not (M = 80), t(58) = 2.16, p < 0.05. Thus,
we reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there is a significant difference in exam scores
between the two groups.