The T-Test
Liza S. Misperos MAED-Math
T - TEST
The t-test is used to compare two
means, the means of two
independent samples or two
independent groups and the means of
correlated samples before and after
the treatment.
Ideally the t-test is used when there
are less than 30 samples.
The T - Table
How to use the T -
Table 1: Choose two-tailed or one-
Step
tailed
Two-tailed tests are used when the
alternative hypothesis is non-directional.
•A non-directional hypothesis states that
a population parameter (such as a mean or
regression coefficient) is not equal to a
certain value (such as 0). Two-tailed tests
are appropriate for most studies.
How to use the T -
Table
One-tailed tests are used when the
alternative hypothesis is directional.
•A directional hypothesis states that a
population parameter is greater than or
less than a certain value.
•Your alternative hypothesis is directional if
it includes words such as “greater than,”
“less than,” “increases,” “decreases,” or
the “<” or “>” sign. If it doesn’t include
How to use the T -
Table
Step 2: Calculate
the degrees of freedom
The degrees of freedom (df) of
a statistic are calculated from
the sample size (n). The
equation you need to use
depends on what type of
test or procedure you’re
How to use the T -
Table
Step 3: Choose a significance level
By convention, the significance level (α)
is almost always .05. The α = .05 column
is highlighted in the table since it is the
most commonly used significance level.
In certain situations, you may want to
decrease your risk of Type I error by
decreasing α, or decrease your risk
of Type II error by increasing α.
How to use the T -
Table
Step 4: Find the critical value
of t in the t table
Now that you know whether your
test is two-tailed or one-
tailed, the degrees of freedom
(df), and the significance level,
you have all the information you
need to use the t table.
How to use the T -
Table
•If the test is two-tailed or if you’re
calculating a confidence interval, use
the first table. If the test is one-
The degrees
tailed, use theofsecond
freedom (df) are
table.
listed along the left side of the
table.
The significance levels are listed along
the top of the table.
The critical value of t for your test is
found where the row and column meet.
THE t-TEST
FOR
CORRELATED
SAMPLES
WHAT IS IT?
It is a test that checks whether
there is any significant difference
between the population means of
two groups.
The t-test for correlated samples is
used when comparing the means
before and after the treatment. It is
also used to compare the means of
the pretest and the posttest.
WHEN IS IT USED?
it is used when two correlated groups of data
(interval or ratios are being compared.
Two groups are correlated if:
• The same samples are observed before and
after the introduction of the independent
variable.
• The samples in both the experimental and
control groups are matched or some variable
known to or correlated to the dependent variable
The t-test for correlated samples
The formula is:
t=
Where:
= the mean difference between the pretest and the posttest.
∑ = the sum of squares of the difference between the pretest
and posttest.
n = the sample size.
The t-test for correlated samples
An experimental study was conducted
on the effect of programmed materials
in English on the performance of 20
selected college students. Before the
program was implemented the pretest
was administered and after 5 months
the same instrument was used to get
the posttest result. The following is the
An experimental study
was conducted on the
effect of programmed
materials in English on
the performance of 20
selected college
students. Before the
program was
implemented the pretest
was administered and
after 5 months the same
instrument was used to
get the posttest result.
The following is the
result of the experiment.
FORMULA: SOLVE:
DATA:
𝑛=20
Solving by the Stepwise Method:
Problem: Is there a significant
difference between the pretest and
the posttest on the use of
programmed materials in English?
Solving by the Stepwise
Method:
Hypotheses:
: The pretest and posttest result are the
same or the use of the programmed materials
did not affect the students’ performance in
English.
Ha : The posttest result is higher than
the pretest result.
Solving by the Stepwise
Method:
Level of
Significance:
α = .05
df = n-1
Statistics:
= 20-1=
19 t-test for
correlated
Solving by the Stepwise
Method:
Decision Rule: If the t-computed value is greater
than or beyond the critical value, reject .
Decision & Conclusion: The t-computed value
of -3.17 is beyond the t-critical value of -1.73
at .05 level of significance with 19 degrees of
freedom, the null hypothesis is therefore rejected
in favor of the research hypothesis. This means
that the posttest result is higher than the pretest
result. It implies that the use of the programmed
Another example:
The t-test for correlated samples
Suppose we were interested in determining
whether two types of music, A and B, differ with
respect to their effects on sensory-motor coordination.
We test some subjects in the presence of type-A music
and other subjects in the presence of type-B music.
With the design for correlated samples we test all
subjects in both conditions and focus on the difference
between the two measures for each subject. To obviate
the potential effects of practice and test sequence in
this case, we would also want to arrange that half the
subjects are tested first in the type-A condition, then
FORMULA: SOLVE:
−1.53
𝑡=
√
(−22.9)2
90.41−
15
15(15 − 1)
− 1.53
𝑡=
DATA:
√ 90.41 − 34.96
15(14 )
− 1.53
𝑡=
√ 55.45
210
− 1.53
𝑡=
0.51
𝑛=15 𝑡 =− 3.0
Solving by the Stepwise
Method:
Hypotheses:
: There is no significant difference between
the performance o f students based on the two
music types.
: There is a significant difference between the
performance o f students based on the two
music types.
Solving by the Stepwise
Method:
Level of Significance:
α = .05
df = n-1
Statistics:
t-test for
t.05 = -2. 145
correlated
Solving by the Stepwise
Method:
Decision Rule: If the t-computed value is greater
than or beyond the critical value, reject .
Decision & Conclusion:
Since calculated is smaller than ,
accept the . Therefore, there is no
significant difference between the
performance of students between the
two music types.
