Independent t-Test

CJ 526 Statistical Analysis in

Criminal Justice
u en to Use an Independent t-Test
1. Two samples
2. Interval or ratio level dependent variable
Eit er
Experimental and control group comparison
Or
Comparing two separate independent groups
(no overlap)
C aracteristics of an Independent t-
Test
1. Sample means are ypot esized to be t e
same. Eit er
1. Treatment as no effect, comparing an
experimental t at received treatment and a
control group t at did not receive treatment
2. Or, two independent groups are t e same wit
respect to a DV
Example of an Independent t-Test
 A psyc ologist wants to determine
w et er diversity training as an effect on
t e number of complaints filed against
employees. He/s e randomly assigns 20
employees to a training group, and 20
employees to a control group.
Example of an Independent t-Test --
continued
1. Number of Groups: 2

2. Nature of Groups: independent

3. Independent Variable: training

4. Dependent variable: number of
complaints
Example of an Independent t-Test --
continued
5. Dependent Variable and its Level of
Measurement: complaints--interval

6. Target Population: employees

7. Appropriate Inferential Statistical

Tec nique: t-test
8. One or two-tailed? Probably one tail
Example of an Independent t-Test --
continued
9. Null Hypot esis:
1. Mean of exp group ± mean of control group = 0
10. Alternative Hypot esis:
Mean of experimental group minus mean of control
group does not equal 0
11. Decision Rule:
1. If t e p-value of t e obtained test statistic is less
t an .05, reject t e null ypot esis
Example of an Independent t-Test --
continued
12. Obtained Test Statistic: t

13. Decision: accept or reject null ypot esis

Null ypot esis²training did not affect complaints,
comparing experimental and control groups
Alternative, one tail²training reduced complaints as
compared to a control group wit out training
See p. 725
Results Section
 T e results of t e Independent t-Test using
diversity training as t e independent
variable and number of complaints filed
against employees were statistically
significant, t (18) = 2.35, p < .05.
 D.f. degrees of freedom = n(group
1)+n(group 2) - 2
Discussion Section
 It appears t at employees undergoing
diversity training ave fewer complaints
filed against t em.
 Or, if t e null ypot esis was retained, t e
conclusion would be t at diversity training
did not affect t e number of complaints
filed
SPSS Independent-Samples t-
Test Procedure
 Analyze, Compare Means, Independent-
Samples t-Test
 Move DV over to Test Variables
 Move IV over to Grouping Variable
 Enter numerical values of t e IV under
Define Groups
 SPSS Independent-Samples t-Test
Sample Printout
 



 

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SPSS Independent-Samples t-
Test Printout
 Group Statistics
 DV
 Levels of IV
 N: Sample size
 Mean
 Standard Deviation
 Standard Error of t e Mean
SPSS Independent-Samples t-
Test Printout -- continued
 Levene¶s Test for Equality of Variances
 Test for omogeneity of variance assumption
 t-Test for Equality of Means
 If Levene test is not significant
 Equal variances assumed
 If Levene test is significant
 Equal variances not assumed
SPSS Independent-Samples t-
Test Printout -- continued
 t-Test for Equality of Means
 t: obtained test statistic
 df: degrees of freedom
 Sig: p-value
 Divide by 2 to get one-tailed p-value
 Mean Difference
 Difference between t e two sample means
SPSS Independent-Samples t-
Test Printout -- continued
 Standard Error of t e Difference
 95% Confidence Interval of t e Difference
 Lower
 Upper