Topic: INFERENTIAL STATISTICS – (T-TEST)
III. LESSON PROPER
KINDS OF STATISTICAL TESTS
1. Parametric Tests - To use the parametric tests, some conditions should be met. The data must be
normally distributed, and the level of measurement must be either interval or ratio. The data are
normal when the value of skewness equals zero, and the value of kurtosis is .256. The interval data
provide numbers that reflect a difference among items. With interval scales, the measurement units
are equal. Examples are scores of intelligence tests and time as reckoned from the calendar. They
have no true zero value.
2. Non-parametric Tests - The nonparametric tests do not require normality of the distribution. Since
skewness is the measure that will tell whether the data is normal or abnormal. If the value of
skewness is either positive or negative, the distribution is said to be abnormal. Aside from skewness,
there is kurtosis that also tells whether the data is normal or abnormal. If the value of kurtosis is
greater than or less than 0.265, then the distribution is said to be abnormal. Under these test, the
levels of measurement are the nominal and ordinal data. Nominal data include male and female, yes
or no responses, political affiliations like LP, LDP, Lakas, religious groupings, Christian and non-
Christian and other organizations. Ordinal data include Strongly Agree, Agree, No Opinion, Disagree
and Strongly Disagree, and other data that employ rankings.
The T-test for Independent Samples
The t-tests are used to determine the significance of the difference between the two means. It is
useful when samples are less than 30, and the standard deviation is unknown. The following assumptions
have to be met: Data are normally distributed, and measurement levels are expressed in interval and ratio
scales.
A two-tailed test is used when we predict a relationship but do not predict the direction in which
scores will change. A one-tailed test is used when we predict the direction in which scores will change. To
compute the t-statistic, you must first calculate the sample variance (or standard deviation) as a substitute
for the unknown value.
Steps in Solving for the t-test.
1. State the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis.
2. Select the appropriate test statistic and its distribution under H0.
3. Choose a level of significance (0.05) and determine the critical or rejection region of the test.
4. Formulate the decision rule for rejecting or failing to reject the null hypothesis.
5. Compute the value of the t-test.
6. State the conclusion based on the decision made.
Example: “The following are the scores of 10 male and 10 female AB students in spelling. Test the null
hypothesis that there is no significant difference between the performance of male and female AB students
in the said test. Use the t-test at .05 level of significance.”
Decision Rule: If the t – computed value is greater than or beyond the t – tabular/ critical value, reject H0.
Conclusion: Since the t – computed value of 2.88 is greater than the t – tabular value of 2.101 at 0.05 level
of significance with 18 degrees of freedom, the null hypothesis is rejected in favor of the research hypothesis.
This means that there is a significant difference between male and female AB students in spelling. It implies
that the male students consider the mean/average score of male students of 13.1greater compared to the
average score of female students of only 7.8.”