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Constance F. Lima-Gonzalez

DDBA-8307-1

Dr. Craig Martin

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Independent-samples t-test

The independent samples T test is used to compare the means of two groups that are unrelated on the

same dependent variable that is continuous. This research seeks to establish whether there is a

statistically significant difference in the number of widgets generated by employees based on their work

shift. To achieve this, the independent samples T test will be used as will be demonstrated. (Green,

Salkind, & Akey,2017)

Research Question

Is there a statistically significant mean difference in the number of widgets produced by employees

working during the day and night shifts?

Hypotheses

H0: µ1 = µ2 - There is no statistically significant mean difference in the number of widgets produced by

employees working during the day and night shifts.

H1: µ1 ≠ µ2 - There is a statistically significant mean difference in the number of widgets produced by

employees working during the day and night shifts.

Results

An independent-samples t-test (two-tailed), a = .05, was conducted to assess whether the

number of widgets produced by employees working the day shift differed significantly from those

produced by employees working during the night shift. (Green, Salkind, & Akey,2017)

The independent variable was the work shift whose two levels were day shift and night shift while the

dependent variable was widgets.

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According to the group statistics table generated, the mean widgets for the day shift and night shift

are 45.20 and 22.07 respectively. There is a difference of approximately 23. Levenes Test (P = 0.881)

were evaluated with no violations noted. Since the significance level (2 tailed) shown is 0.022 and it is

less than alpha, which is 0.05, we conclude that the group means are statistically significantly different.

(Green, Salkind, & Akey,2017)

This means that there is a statistically significant mean difference in the number of widgets produced by

employees working during the day and night shifts. The difference in means is thus significant.

For this reason, it can be recommended that employees be maximized during the day shift as this

is when they are more productive. Figure 1 below gives the box plot depicting widgets by work shift.

The SPSS output is provided in the Appendix.

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Figure 1: Box plot depicting widgets by work shift. (Green, Salkind, & Akey,2017)
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References

Green, S. B., Salkind, N. J., & Akey, T. M. (2017). Using SPSS for Windows: Analyzing and

Understanding Data (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall.

Lumley, T., Diehr, P, Emerson, S., & Chen, L. (2002). The importance of the normality assumption in

large public health data sets, Annual review of Public Health, 23(1), 151-170.

doi: 10. 1146.annurev. publichealth.23.100901.140546

Paul, H., & Garg, P. (2014). Organizational commitment of frontline sales professionals in India: Role

of resilience. International Journal of Business Insights and Information, 7(2), 12–18. Retrieved

from http://www.ijbit.org/home

Ruane, J. M. (2005). Essentials of research methods: A guide to social science research. Blackwell

publishing.

Saunders, M. N. K., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2015). Research methods for business students (7th ed.).

Essex, England: Pearson Education Limited.

Sprinthall, R. C. (2003). Basic statistical analysis. Allyn & Bacon.

Appendix – Independent Samples t-Test SPSS Output

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Group Statistics
Work Shift N Mean Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean

Day Shift 15 45.20 24.969 6.447

Widgets 15 22.07 27.136 7.006
Night Shift

Independent Samples Test

Levene's Test t-test for Equality of Means
for Equality
of Variances
F Sig. t df Sig. Mean Std. 95%
(2- Differ Error Confidence
tailed) ence Differ Interval of the
ence Difference
Lower Upper
Equal variances .023 .881 2.430 28 .022 23.133 9.521 3.630 42.63
Wid assumed 7
gets Equal variances 2.430 27.80 .022 23.133 9.521 3.624 42.64
not assumed 8 3