Independent Samples T-Test: How to Write Up Results for Thesis & Research

This video focuses on two independent samples t-tests conducted to compare self-esteem scores and perceived stress scores between males and females.
Null Hypothesis (H₀): Assumes no significant difference between the group means.
Alternative Hypothesis (H₁): Assumes a significant difference between the group means.
Before running the t-test, it is essential to ensure that the data meet the necessary assumptions. The assumptions include:
Hypotheses for Self-Esteem Scores
Null Hypothesis (H₀): There is no significant difference in the mean self-esteem scores for males and females.
Alternative Hypothesis (H₁): There is a significant difference in the mean self-esteem scores for males and females.
Output Interpretation for Self-Esteem Scores
An independent-samples t-test was conducted to compare the self-esteem scores of males and females. Before interpreting the results, we checked the assumptions of homogeneity of variance and normality. The Levene’s test for equality of variances was used to assess homogeneity. The significance value obtained from Levene’s test was 0.062, which is above the threshold of 0.05, indicating that the assumption of homogeneity of variances was not violated. Additionally, the normality of the distribution was checked, and no violations were found.
Hypotheses for Perceived Stress Scores
Null Hypothesis (H₀): There is no significant difference in the mean perceived stress scores for males and females.
Alternative Hypothesis (H₁): There is a significant difference in the mean perceived stress scores for males and females.
Output Interpretation for Perceived Stress Scores
An independent-samples t-test was conducted to compare the perceived stress scores of males and females. Similar to the self-esteem test, we first checked the assumptions of homogeneity of variance and normality. The Levene’s test for equality of variances yielded a significance value of 0.165, which is above the threshold of 0.05, indicating that the assumption of homogeneity of variances was not violated. The normality assumption was also checked and met.
The t-test results showed that there was a significant difference in the perceived stress scores for males (M = 25.79, SD = 5.41) and females (M = 27.42, SD = 6.07); t(431) = -2.898, p = .004, two-tailed. Since the p-value is less than 0.05, we reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis. This result indicates that there is a significant difference in perceived stress scores between males and females, with females reporting higher stress levels on average.
Writing Up Results
When writing up the results of an independent samples t-test, it is essential to present the findings clearly and concisely. The report should include the following elements:
Introduction: Briefly state the purpose of the test and the hypotheses being tested.
Assumptions: Discuss the assumptions of the test and how they were checked.
Test Results: Present the t-test results, including the means, standard deviations, t-value, degrees of freedom, and p-value.
Interpretation: Interpret the results in the context of the hypotheses, stating whether the null hypothesis was rejected or not.
Conclusion: Summarize the findings and their implications.
Example Write-Up for Self-Esteem Scores
An independent-samples t-test was conducted to compare the self-esteem scores for males and females. We checked the assumptions of homogeneity of variance and normality, and no violations were found. The Levene’s test for equality of variances yielded a significance value of 0.062, indicating that the assumption of homogeneity of variances was met. The results of the t-test showed that there was no significant difference in self-esteem scores for males (M = 34.02, SD = 4.91) and females (M = 33.17, SD = 5.71); t(434) = 1.62, p = .11, two-tailed. Therefore, we failed to reject the null hypothesis, concluding that there is no significant difference in self-esteem scores between males and females.
Example Write-Up for Perceived Stress Scores
An independent-samples t-test was conducted to compare perceived stress scores for males and females. The assumptions of homogeneity of variance and normality were checked, and no violations were found. The Levene’s test for equality of variances indicated a significance value of 0.165, confirming that the assumption of homogeneity of variances was met. The results showed a significant difference in perceived stress scores for males (M = 25.79, SD = 5.41) and females (M = 27.42, SD = 6.07); t(431) = -2.898, p = .004, two-tailed. As a result, we rejected the null hypothesis and accepted the alternative hypothesis, concluding that there is a significant difference in perceived stress scores between males and females.