Scribd
Upload
24 views22 pages

Stats T Tests

The document provides information about independent samples t-tests and paired samples t-tests, including their appropriate uses, assumptions, and how to perform them in SPSS. It explains what t-tests are used for, the different types, their assumptions, and provides a step-by-step example of performing an independent samples t-test in SPSS.

Uploaded by

bszool006
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
24 views22 pages

Stats T Tests

The document provides information about independent samples t-tests and paired samples t-tests, including their appropriate uses, assumptions, and how to perform them in SPSS. It explains what t-tests are used for, the different types, their assumptions, and provides a step-by-step example of performing an independent samples t-test in SPSS.

Uploaded by

bszool006
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 22

T-test

www.kent.ac.uk/student-learning-advisory-service
1
T-test
Introduction
• We will introduce the t-test method, in particular we
will:
• Learn when we can use a t-test

• Types of t-test: independent samples vs paired samples

• Learn the assumptions under which we can use a t-test

• Have a go at performing a t-test using SPSS

• This tutorial is intended for students in initial stages of


Statistics. No previous knowledge is required. 2
Independent samples t-test
• An independent samples t-test is used when you want to compare
the mean scores of two different groups of people or conditions
(between-subjects design).
• The dependent variable (DV) is numerical and the independent
variable (IV) is categorical.

For example:
• Testing the differences in time taken to recover from a disease
when one group is given a medical treatment and the other is
given a placebo (DV is time to recover and drug treatment group
is the IV).
• Comparing differences in profit made from coffee sales between
Costa Coffee and Café Nero (coffee shop is IV and profit made is
DV).
3
Paired samples t-test
• A paired samples t-test (also known as dependent samples) is
used when you want to compare the mean scores for the same
group of people on two different occasions or if you have
matched pairs (within-subjects design).
• The dependent variable (DV) is numerical and the independent
variable (IV) is categorical.

For example:
• Students’ test results before and after completing a course.
• Comparing blood pressure measurements using two different
methods (e.g., using a stethoscope and a dynamap).

4
One-tailed or two-tailed t-test?
• If you want to know whether the two populations are
different from one another, perform a two-tailed t-test.
Key words in non-directional hypothesis:
Difference
Change
Affect
Impact

• If you want to know whether one population mean is


greater or less than the other, perform a one-tailed t-test.
Key words in directional hypothesis:
Increase
Improve
More
Higher
“er”
5
Hypothesis Testing
T-tests test the null hypothesis:

H0 : The groups have equal means

versus the alternative hypothesis:

H1 : One group has a larger mean

6
The T-value
Where:
• t is the t-value
• x1 and x2 are the means of the two groups
being compared
• s2 is the pooled standard error of the two
groups
• n1 and n2 are the number of observations
in each of the groups

A larger t-value shows that the difference between group means is


greater than the pooled standard error, indicating a more significant
difference between the groups.
The t-value gets compared with a critical value chart to determine
whether the t-value is greater than what would be expected by chance.
This can also be done using statistical software.
https://www.scribbr.com/statistics/t-test/ 7
Assumptions
1. Independence of observations: The occurrence of one
observation provides no information about the occurrence of the
other observation.

2. Homogeneity of variance: The variability of scores for each of


the groups is similar.
You can plot each group separately and check that they exhibit similar
variability.
Alternatively, you can use Levene’s test for homogeneity.

3. Normal Distribution: The probability distribution should be


centred on the average value, spreading out with decreasing
probability in each direction.
8
Independent Samples T-test in
SPSS
1. Go to: www.openup.co.uk/spss
2. Click the link to access the support website
3. Under ‘Data Files & Exercises’ click ‘Data Files’
4. Download the survey.zip file

Then follow along!


To do this, you will need to install SPSS:
https://www.kent.ac.uk/software/spss-
statistics

9
Independent Samples T-test in
SPSS
Example:
Is there a significant difference in mean self-esteem
scores for males and females?

Variables:
• One categorical IV: Sex (male/female)
• One continuous DV: Self-esteem scores
Independent Samples T-test in
SPSS
1. Click on Analyze, Compare Means, then
Independent-Samples T test.
2. Move the continuous dependent variable (e.g.,
total self-esteem: tslfest) into the box marked
Test Variable.
3. Move the categorical independent variable (e.g.,
sex) into the box labelled Grouping Variable.
Independent Samples T-test in
SPSS
4. Click on Define Groups and type in the numbers
used in the data set to code each group:
• E.g., 1 = males, 2 = females
• In the group 1 box, type 1
• In the group 2 box, type 2

Tip: If you can’t remember the codes used, right click on the variable
name and choose Variable Information from the pop-up box that
appears. This will list the codes and labels.

5. Click on Continue and then OK


Independent Samples T-test in
SPSS
Interpreting the output:
1. In the Group Statistics table, check that the
number of people/cases in each group, as well as
the group means, are correct.
Independent Samples T-test in
SPSS
Checking Assumptions:
2. The first section of the Independent Samples Test table
gives you the result for Levene’s test for equality of
variances (i.e., homogeneity of variance).
• This tests whether the variability of scores for each of the
groups (males and females) is similar.
• The outcome of this test determines which of the t-values that
SPSS provides is the correct one for you to use.
Independent Samples T-test in
SPSS
Checking Assumptions:
• If the Sig. value for the Levene’s test is larger than .05 (e.g., .07, .10) you
should use the first line in the table, which refers to Equal variances
assumed.
• If the Sig. value is p=.05 or less (e.g., .01, .001), the variances for the two
groups are not similar. If this is the case, the data violates the
assumption of equal variance and you should use the second line in the
table, which refers to Equal variances not assumed.
Independent Samples T-test in
SPSS
Assessing differences between the two groups:
3. To find out if there is a significant difference between the
two groups, refer to the column labelled Sig. (2-tailed).
• If this is equal to or less than .05 there is significant difference
between the two groups.
• If this is greater than .05 there is no significant difference between
the two groups.
Independent Samples T-test in
SPSS
Calculating effect size:
• In a t-test, effect size will tell us how large the
difference between groups is.
• We will calculate eta squared, which is one of the
most common effect size statistics.
Independent Samples T-test in
SPSS
Calculating effect size:
t2
Eta squared =
T2 + (N1 + N2 – 2)

1.622
Eta squared = According to Cohen (1988):
1.62 + (184 + 252 – 2)
2
Small effect: .01
Medium effect: .06
Eta squared = .006 Large effect: .14
Independent Samples T-test in
SPSS
Example results write-up:
An independent samples t-test was conducted to
compare the self-esteem scores for males and
females. There was no significant difference in scores
for males (M = 34.02, SD = 4.91) and females (M =
33.17, SD = 5.71; t (434) = 1.62, p = .11, two-tailed).
The magnitude of the differences in the means
(mean difference = .85, 95% CI: -1.80 to 1.87) was
very small (eta squared = .006).
Independent Samples T-test in
SPSS
Note: Results are usually rounded to two decimal places
ANOVA
• The T-test is used to compare the means of two
groups.
• ANOVA is used to compare the means of two or
more groups.
Upcoming workshops…

www.kent.ac.uk/student-learning-advisory-service

maths/stats appointments available!


22

You might also like