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Using The Excel Spreadsheet Program To Calculate The Independent T

The document describes how to use Excel to calculate an independent t-test to analyze the difference in job satisfaction scores between employees on a fixed shift system versus a rotating shift system. It provides the steps to enter the job satisfaction data into Excel, use the Data Analysis tool to run the t-test, and interpret the results, which show a significant difference in job satisfaction between the two groups. The t value calculated in Excel matches what was calculated manually, demonstrating Excel can accurately perform this statistical analysis.

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poret_popo09
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103 views

Using The Excel Spreadsheet Program To Calculate The Independent T

The document describes how to use Excel to calculate an independent t-test to analyze the difference in job satisfaction scores between employees on a fixed shift system versus a rotating shift system. It provides the steps to enter the job satisfaction data into Excel, use the Data Analysis tool to run the t-test, and interpret the results, which show a significant difference in job satisfaction between the two groups. The t value calculated in Excel matches what was calculated manually, demonstrating Excel can accurately perform this statistical analysis.

Uploaded by

poret_popo09
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Using the Excel Spreadsheet Program to

Calculate the Independent t-test


The Excel spreadsheet program has a tool to calculate the independent t value which simplifies
our computational task considerably. Let's use the same research problem we already considered,
but use the spreadsheet program to do the calculations.

Research Problem: Job satisfaction as a function of work schedule was investigated in two
different factories. In the first factory the employees are on a fixed shift system while in the
second factory the workers have a rotating shift system. Under the fixed shift system, a worker
always works the same shift, while under the rotating shift system, a worker rotates through the
three shifts. Using the scores below determine if there is a significant difference in job
satisfaction between the two groups of workers.

Work Satisfaction Scores for Two Groups of Workers


Fixed Shift Rotating Shift
79 63
83 71
68 46
59 57
81 53
76 46
80 57
74 76
58 52
49 68
68 73

The first step in solving this problem is to enter the work satisfaction scores for the two groups
into an Excel Worksheet. After we have done this our worksheet should look as follows:
In the Excel Worksheet select Data Analysis under the Tools menu. If Data Analysis is not
available you must install the Data Analysis Tools.

If you need to you can install the data analysis tools as follows:

1. Select Add-Ins from the Tools menu.


2. In the Add-Ins window click on the box next to Analysis Tool Pak to select it.
3. Click OK. You have now installed the Tool Pak.

With the Data Analysis Tools installed, select Data Analysis under the Tools menu.

In the Data Analysis window scroll down and select t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal
Variances. Complete the t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal VAriances window as follows:

1. Enter $A$3:$A$14 in the Variable 1 Range: box (or you can enter that value
automatically by clicking in the box and then selecting the range of cells B3 through
B14). Note that we have included the label, Fixed Shift, in the range of cells we selected.
2. Enter $B$3:$B$14 in the Variable 2 Range: box (or click on the box and select the cells
B3 through B14).
3. Enter 0 in the Hypothesized mean difference: box.
4. Click the Labels box so that we indicate we are using labels (Fixed Shift and Rotating
Shift)
5. Under Output Options click the button for Output range: and enter $A$16 in the
Output range: box (or click in the box and then click on the cell A16 to cause it to appear
in the box).
6. Click OK.

Your spreadsheet should now appear as follows:


The results of the t-test can be seen in the resultant table. The value of t (t Stat)l is 2.210169858,
which we can round off to 2.210 which is almost identical to the answer (2.209) we got when we
calculated t without using the spreadsheet program. The small difference between the two
answers is because of rounding the partial answers off during our calculations.

The probability of this results being due to chance (the alpha level) we can read from the table as
0.038913045 (see t Critical two-tail) which means that this result is significant at the .04 level.
We will set our alpha level as .05, so we will say that p < .05 rather than that p = .04

We can also read the critical value or cut-off value for t from the table by looking at t Critical
two-tail which is 2.085962478, which is the same value (2.086) we looked up in the table in the
textbook when we were calculating t without using the spreadsheet.

We now have all the information we need to complete the six step statistical inference process:

1. State the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis based on your research
question.

2. Set the alpha level.

3. Calculate the value of the appropriate statistic. Also indicate the degrees of freedom
for the statistical test if necessary.
t = 2.210
df = n1 + n2 - 2 = 11 + 11 - 2 = 20
4. Write the decision rule for rejecting the null hypothesis.
Reject H0 if t is >= 2.086 or if t <= -2.086
5. Write a summary statement based on the decision.
Reject H0, p < .05, two-tailed
6. Write a statement of results in standard English.
There is a significant difference in job satisfaction betwen the two groups of workers.

We can see that the Excel spreadsheet program gives us an easy way to calculate the independent
t value. It also provides us with the critical values of t for the alpha levels we specify (the default
value is an alpha of .05) and the degrees of freedom (df) for the statistic.

Return to Lesson 11

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