One sample t test for the mean - overview
This page offers structured overviews of one or more selected methods. Add additional methods for comparisons (max. of 3) by clicking on the dropdown button in the right-hand column. To practice with a specific method click the button at the bottom row of the table
One sample $t$ test for the mean | Logistic regression | Wilcoxon signed-rank test |
You cannot compare more than 3 methods |
---|---|---|---|
Independent variable | Independent variables | Independent variable | |
None | One or more quantitative of interval or ratio level and/or one or more categorical with independent groups, transformed into code variables | 2 paired groups | |
Dependent variable | Dependent variable | Dependent variable | |
One quantitative of interval or ratio level | One categorical with 2 independent groups | One quantitative of interval or ratio level | |
Null hypothesis | Null hypothesis | Null hypothesis | |
H0: $\mu = \mu_0$
Here $\mu$ is the population mean, and $\mu_0$ is the population mean according to the null hypothesis. | Model chi-squared test for the complete regression model:
| H0: $m = 0$
Here $m$ is the population median of the difference scores. A difference score is the difference between the first score of a pair and the second score of a pair. Several different formulations of the null hypothesis can be found in the literature, and we do not agree with all of them. Make sure you (also) learn the one that is given in your text book or by your teacher. | |
Alternative hypothesis | Alternative hypothesis | Alternative hypothesis | |
H1 two sided: $\mu \neq \mu_0$ H1 right sided: $\mu > \mu_0$ H1 left sided: $\mu < \mu_0$ | Model chi-squared test for the complete regression model:
| H1 two sided: $m \neq 0$ H1 right sided: $m > 0$ H1 left sided: $m < 0$ | |
Assumptions | Assumptions | Assumptions | |
|
|
| |
Test statistic | Test statistic | Test statistic | |
$t = \dfrac{\bar{y} - \mu_0}{s / \sqrt{N}}$
Here $\bar{y}$ is the sample mean, $\mu_0$ is the population mean according to the null hypothesis, $s$ is the sample standard deviation, and $N$ is the sample size. The denominator $s / \sqrt{N}$ is the standard error of the sampling distribution of $\bar{y}$. The $t$ value indicates how many standard errors $\bar{y}$ is removed from $\mu_0$. | Model chi-squared test for the complete regression model:
The wald statistic can be defined in two ways:
Likelihood ratio chi-squared test for individual $\beta_k$:
| Two different types of test statistics can be used, but both will result in the same test outcome. We will denote the first option the $W_1$ statistic (also known as the $T$ statistic), and the second option the $W_2$ statistic.
In order to compute each of the test statistics, follow the steps below:
| |
Sampling distribution of $t$ if H0 were true | Sampling distribution of $X^2$ and of the Wald statistic if H0 were true | Sampling distribution of $W_1$ and of $W_2$ if H0 were true | |
$t$ distribution with $N - 1$ degrees of freedom | Sampling distribution of $X^2$, as computed in the model chi-squared test for the complete model:
| Sampling distribution of $W_1$:
If $N_r$ is large, $W_1$ is approximately normally distributed with mean $\mu_{W_1}$ and standard deviation $\sigma_{W_1}$ if the null hypothesis were true. Here $$\mu_{W_1} = \frac{N_r(N_r + 1)}{4}$$ $$\sigma_{W_1} = \sqrt{\frac{N_r(N_r + 1)(2N_r + 1)}{24}}$$ Hence, if $N_r$ is large, the standardized test statistic $$z = \frac{W_1 - \mu_{W_1}}{\sigma_{W_1}}$$ follows approximately the standard normal distribution if the null hypothesis were true. Sampling distribution of $W_2$: If $N_r$ is large, $W_2$ is approximately normally distributed with mean $0$ and standard deviation $\sigma_{W_2}$ if the null hypothesis were true. Here $$\sigma_{W_2} = \sqrt{\frac{N_r(N_r + 1)(2N_r + 1)}{6}}$$ Hence, if $N_r$ is large, the standardized test statistic $$z = \frac{W_2}{\sigma_{W_2}}$$ follows approximately the standard normal distribution if the null hypothesis were true. If $N_r$ is small, the exact distribution of $W_1$ or $W_2$ should be used. Note: if ties are present in the data, the formula for the standard deviations $\sigma_{W_1}$ and $\sigma_{W_2}$ is more complicated. | |
Significant? | Significant? | Significant? | |
Two sided:
| For the model chi-squared test for the complete regression model and likelihood ratio chi-squared test for individual $\beta_k$:
| For large samples, the table for standard normal probabilities can be used: Two sided:
| |
$C\%$ confidence interval for $\mu$ | Wald-type approximate $C\%$ confidence interval for $\beta_k$ | n.a. | |
$\bar{y} \pm t^* \times \dfrac{s}{\sqrt{N}}$
where the critical value $t^*$ is the value under the $t_{N-1}$ distribution with the area $C / 100$ between $-t^*$ and $t^*$ (e.g. $t^*$ = 2.086 for a 95% confidence interval when df = 20). The confidence interval for $\mu$ can also be used as significance test. | $b_k \pm z^* \times SE_{b_k}$ where the critical value $z^*$ is the value under the normal curve with the area $C / 100$ between $-z^*$ and $z^*$ (e.g. $z^*$ = 1.96 for a 95% confidence interval). | - | |
Effect size | Goodness of fit measure $R^2_L$ | n.a. | |
Cohen's $d$: Standardized difference between the sample mean and $\mu_0$: $$d = \frac{\bar{y} - \mu_0}{s}$$ Cohen's $d$ indicates how many standard deviations $s$ the sample mean $\bar{y}$ is removed from $\mu_0.$ | $R^2_L = \dfrac{D_{null} - D_K}{D_{null}}$ There are several other goodness of fit measures in logistic regression. In logistic regression, there is no single agreed upon measure of goodness of fit. | - | |
Visual representation | n.a. | n.a. | |
- | - | ||
Example context | Example context | Example context | |
Is the average mental health score of office workers different from $\mu_0 = 50$? | Can body mass index, stress level, and gender predict whether people get diagnosed with diabetes? | Is the median of the differences between the mental health scores before and after an intervention different from 0? | |
SPSS | SPSS | SPSS | |
Analyze > Compare Means > One-Sample T Test...
| Analyze > Regression > Binary Logistic...
| Analyze > Nonparametric Tests > Legacy Dialogs > 2 Related Samples...
| |
Jamovi | Jamovi | Jamovi | |
T-Tests > One Sample T-Test
| Regression > 2 Outcomes - Binomial
| T-Tests > Paired Samples T-Test
| |
Practice questions | Practice questions | Practice questions | |