Paired Samples t-Test

Joselito Bolivar

Introduction

A paired samples t test (a.k.a. matched or dependent-samples, matched-pairs samples,

or subjects, simple repeated-measures or within-groups, or correlated groups) assesses
whether the mean difference between paired/matched observations is significantly different
from zero. That is, the dependent-samples t test procedure evaluates whether there is a
significant difference between the means of the two variables (test occasions or events). The
participants are either the same individuals tested on two occasions or under two conditions on
one measure, or there are two groups of participants that are matched (paired) on one or more
characteristics (e.g., IQ, age, gender, etc.) and tested on one measure.
For example, you want to measure the effectiveness in reducing weight among
overweight persons (the dependent variable) before and after they underwent a new form of
dieting method that uses different kinds of fruits, vegetables, and herbs to reduce weight. You
would like to know if the new form of diet will improve the weight loss of the overweight
persons. Here, we can use a dependent t-test because we have two related groups. The first
related group consists of the participants at the beginning prior to undergoing the new form of
diet and the second related group consists of the same participants, but now at the end of
undergoing the new form of diet.

The following are the four assumptions for paired samples t- test here

Assumption 1
The dependent variable should be measured at the interval or ratio
level (i.e., they are continuous). The sample size must be adequate, at least 30 cases per group

Examples of variables that meet this criterion include customers’ satisfaction (measured in a
scale of 1 to 5), intelligence (measured using IQ score), examination performance
(measured from 0 to 100), weight (measured in kg), and so forth.

Assumption 2
 The independent variable should consist of two categorical,
"related groups" or "matched pairs".

"Related groups" indicate that the same subjects are present in both groups. The reason
that it is possible to have the same subjects in each group is because each subject has been
measured on two occasions on the same dependent variable. For example, you might have
measured 10 individuals' performance in a spelling test (the dependent variable) before and
after they underwent a new form of computerized teaching method to improve their
spelling. You would like to know if the computer training improved their spelling
performance. The first related group consists of the subjects at the beginning of (prior to)
the computerized spelling training and the second related group consists of the same
subjects, but now at the end of the computerized training.

Assumption 3 There should be no significant outliers. Outliers are simply single
data points within your data that do not follow the usual pattern (e.g., in a study of 100
students’ IQ scores, where the mean score was 108 with only a small variation between
students, one student had a score of 156, which is very unusual, and may even put her in
the top 1% of IQ scores globally).

Assumption 4 The distribution of the differences in the dependent

variable between the two related groups should be approximately normally distributed.
We talk about the dependent t-test only requiring approximately normal data because it is
quite "robust" to violations of normality, meaning that the assumption can be a little violated
and still provide valid results. The normality assumption is mostly relevant for small sample
sizes (say n < 30)

A clothing company with 30 branches would like implement a cost cutting measure in
order increase sales performance. Given are the sales data for the month of March
before the cost cutting measure is implemented. During the month of April the cost
cutting measure was implemented and sales data at the end of April and May were also
provided. Does it shows that the cost cutting measure is effective in increasing sales in
the months of April and May.

1. State the null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis

Ho: There is no significant difference in the sales performance for the month of March
and April

Ha: There is a significant difference in the sales performance for the month of March
and April

Ho: There is no significant difference in the sales performance for the month of April and May

Ha: There is a significant difference in the sales performance for the month of April and May

2. Choose the Level of significance: 0.05

3. Statistical Tool; Dependent Samples t-test
4. Compute the value of test statistic from the sample data

1. Make Decision

Since the Sig(2-tailed) < 0.05

0.023< 0.05 ; Significant ;

The sales performance for the month of April and May varies significantly
 2. Make Decision

Since the Sig(2-tailed) > 0.05

0.739 > 0.05 ; Not Significant ;

The sales performance for the month of April and May do not vary significantly; perceived to be
the same