We want to compare the scores of two different groups of people, those who are high in authoritarianism versus those who are low in authoritarianism, on a scale that measures leadership ability. What is the best statistical test to perform to see if the two groups are different from each other on this measure?
A) paired samples t-test
B) t-test for independent groups
C) factorial ANOVA
D) one way ANOVA

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best statistical test to perform in this situation would be a t-test for independent groups, as we are comparing the scores of two distinct groups (those who are high in authoritarianism and those who are low in authoritarianism). A paired samples t-test would be appropriate if we were comparing scores of the same individuals on two different occasions or under two different conditions. The use of ANOVA would only be necessary if we were comparing more than two groups.

We Want to Compare the Scores of Two Different Groups