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The independent sample t-test is a statistical method of hypothesis testing that determines whether there is a statistically significant difference between the means of two independent samples.

For example, one might use this method of analysis to determine whether the average value of a sedan type of car is significantly different from an SUV type of car. Here the hypothesis would be set as a null hypothesis: SUV and Sedan car types have insignificant differences in terms of value, and the alternative hypothesis value of SUV and sedan differ significantly.

Let’s look at a sample of the independent t-test on two variables. One is a dimension containing two values, and the other is a measure.

• At a 95 percent confidence level (5 percent chance of error): As p-value = 0.041, which is less than 0.05, there is a statistically significant difference between the means of the two groups A and B. The mean of Group A is significantly higher than that of Group B.
• At a 98 percent confidence level (2 percent chance of error): As p-value = 0.041, which is greater than 0.02, there is no statistically significant difference between the means of the two groups A and B.

How Can the Independent Samples T-Test Method Benefit an Organization?

The independent samples t-test method of hypothesis testing can be used to address various needs in various types of industries and organizations.

• Medicine: Has the quality of life improved for patients who took drug A as opposed to patients who took drug B?
• Sociology: Are men more satisfied with their jobs than women? Do they earn more?
• Biology: Are foxes in one specific habitat larger than in another?
• Economics: Is the economic growth of developing nations larger than the economic growth of the first world?
• Marketing: Does customer segment A spend more on groceries than customer segment B?

To better understand the benefits of the independent sample t-test analysis, let’s look at two use cases:

Use Case 1

Business Problem: An HR manager wants to find out whether male employees earn more than female employees. Here, the dependent variable would be “Total Annual Income.”

Business Benefit: Once the test is completed, a p-value is generated, which indicates whether there is a statistical difference between the income of the two groups. Based on this value, a manager can easily conclude whether the average income earned by female employees is statistically different from male employees. If the difference is statistically significant, they can further conclude which gender earns higher or lower salaries.

Use Case 2

Business Problem: A grocery store sales manager wants to know whether customer segment A spends more on groceries than customer segment B. Here, the dependent variable would be “Purchase Amount.”

Business Benefit: Once the test is completed, a p-value is generated, which indicates whether there is a statistical difference between the purchase amounts of both segments. Based on this value, the grocery store manager can decide on marketing strategies for better sales and increased revenue.

The independent sample t-test is a useful statistical method of hypothesis testing when an organization wants to determine whether there is a statistical difference between two categories, groups, or items and, furthermore, if there is a statistical difference, whether that difference is significant.