GUIDE TO SELECTING INFERENTIAL STATISTICAL TESTS TO ANALYZE YOUR DATA

Below are the different types of tests with descriptions that will help you determine which test(s) to use. Also, there is a
hyperlink for each test to instructional websites (including screen shots) that show you exactly what to do in SPSS as well
as how to interpret the data.
****Note that the examples of how to report the statistics on these websites ARE NOT APA-style, so do not follow
them
Each different instructional webpage has the same format. I suggest scrolling past the first large blue rectangular bar (see screen
shot below).

t-Test (t): used to compare 2 means

o 1 IV (2 levels)
o 1 continuous DV
Independent samples
o 2 samples of subjects
Observed in only 1 condition
Each tested only 1x
Between-groups
o How to do an independent t-test in SPSS:
https://statistics.laerd.com/spss-tutorials/independent-t-test-using-spssstatistics.php
Paired (related) samples (compares each. participants difference score)
o 1 sample of subjects (2 related samples)
Observed in both conditions (if comparing across different levels of IV)
tested 2x on the same variable (if comparing pre & posttest)
Within-groups
o How to do a dependent t-test in SPSS:
https://statistics.laerd.com/spss-tutorials/dependent-t-test-using-spss-statistics.php

Kara Sidorowicz, 2013

 ANOVA (Analysis of Variance)(F) : used to compare 3+ means

o One-way ANOVA
1 IV (3+ levels )
o 3 different groups of subjects/ conditions
1 continuous DV
Between-groups
How to do a one-way ANOVA in SPSS:
o https://statistics.laerd.com/spss-tutorials/one-way-anova-using-spss-statistics.php
o Two-way ANOVA
2+ IVs
1 continuous DV
Since there are two independent variables look for possible interactions
o Connection between variables shown as main effect
Main effect can be for factor 1, factor 2, or for interaction.
IF find interaction, disregard other main effects
How do a two-way ANOVA in SPSS:
o https://statistics.laerd.com/spss-tutorials/two-way-anova-using-spss-statistics.php
o Repeated-measures ANOVA
Within-groups
o Compare means for same subjects measured 3+ times
Can be one-way or two-way
How do a one-way repeated-measures ANOVA in SPSS:
o https://statistics.laerd.com/spss-tutorials/one-way-anova-repeated-measures-using-spssstatistics.php
How do a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA in SPSS:
o https://statistics.laerd.com/spss-tutorials/two-way-repeated-measures-anova-using-spssstatistics.php
o Post Hoc Comparisons: include these when reporting results if a significant difference is found
Checks for significant difference b/w each possible combination of means that were included in your
analysis
Multiple options to choose from; these are the most commonly-used post hoc analyses:
o Tukeys honestly significant difference (HSD) test
o Scheffes test
o Fishers least significant difference (LSD) test
o

The information included when you you report the results of an ANOVA is slightly different than t tests
Always report 2 df
o The between-groups df= # of groups-1: dfB = (G 1)
o The within-groups df= total sample size - # of groups: dfW = N G
Ex.) 3 conditions, 5 subjects in each (15 total subjects)
F(2, 12)
Effect size: eta squared:
o 04 small, .06 medium, .14 large.

Kara Sidorowicz, 2013

 Correlation (r)
o Used to compare 2 continuous variables
o How to calculate correlation in SPSS:
https://statistics.laerd.com/spss-tutorials/pearsons-product-moment-correlation-using-spssstatistics.php

Kara Sidorowicz, 2013