TYPES OF STATISTICAL TESTS

In testing your hypothesis, you have to choose the appropriate statistical

test. How do you know?

Types of statistical tests: There is a wide range of statistical tests. The

decision of which statistical test to use depends on the research design,
the distribution of the data, and the type of variable. In general, if the
data is normally distributed, you will choose from parametric tests. If the
data is non-normal, you will choose from the set of non-parametric tests.
Below is a table listing just a few common statistical tests and their use

Type of Test Use

Correlational: These tests look for an association between variables

Pearson Tests for the strength of the association between two continuous
correlation variables and collected from the same respondents.

Tests for the strength of the association between two ordinal

Spearman
variables (does not rely on the assumption of normally distributed
correlation
data) and collected from the same respondents.

Tests for the strength of the association between two categorical

Chi-square
variables.
Comparison of Means: look for the difference between the means of
variables
Tests for the difference between two related variables on one
Paired t-test
outcome variable
Tests for the difference between two independent variables using
Independent
categorical/ordinal data on one outcome (Dependent) variable
t-test
using continuous data.

Tests the difference between 3 or more independent group

One-Way
means using categorical/ordinal data on one outcome
ANOVA
(Dependent) variable.

Tests the difference between 3 or more independent group

Two-Way
means using categorical/ordinal data on two or more outcome
ANOVA
(Dependent) variables.

Regression: assess if change in one variable predicts change in another

variable

Simple Tests how change in the predictor variable predicts the level of
regression change in the outcome variable.
 Multiple Tests how change in the combination of two or more predictor
regression variables predict the level of change in the outcome variable.