ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors present several examples of published research that used an independent samples t-test. The first case study (Written Versus Oral Explanations) examined whether two methods of explanations (written versus oral) of how combustion engines work would result in differences in two learning outcomes: conceptual knowledge and transfer knowledge. The researchers randomly assigned the participants in the two types of explanations and then scored them on the two outcomes. For the conceptual knowledge hypothesis, the dependent variable was conceptual knowledge test scores (12-item multiple-choice test). The authors report that they evaluated the content validity of the conceptual knowledge test by using a subject-matter expert to check the correctness of the questions and the possible answers. In the second case study (Evaluation of Implicit Bias in Graduate School Applications), the researchers were interested in understanding how participants might rate graduate school application essays differently based on slight changes.
