RobertNiles.com
About Robert
Reporting Help
Finding Data on the Internet
Questions for Candidates
Stats Lessons
Mean
Median
Percent
Per capita
Standard Deviation
Margin of Error
Data Analysis
Sample Sizes
Stats Tests
Help Board
Bookstore


Statistics for the Utterly Confused

This book offers a super-accessible approach to the much-misunderstood subject of statistics.
More information
-->

Home > Statistics Every Writer Should Know > The Stats Board > Discusssion

Testing the differences between 2 means
Message posted by Shaun (via 193.132.229.110) on December 11, 2001 at 11:40 AM (ET)

Hi
This is my problem.
300 people were asked their strength of agreement to the statement 'I love watching TV'.
The respondents answered on a ten point scale.
The results were
Sample 1 Sample 2
0 - 0 0 - 0
1 - 0 1 - 0
2 - 0 2 - 0
3 - 0 3 - 3
4 - 2 4 - 2
5 - 6 5 - 4
6 - 16 6 - 19
7 - 22 7 - 31
8 - 32 8 - 64
9 - 67 9 - 91
10 - 80 10 - 36
Mean1 = 8.65 Mean2 = 8.24

I am familiar with t and z tests for comparing means but these tests assume the distributions are Normal. The data I have is skewed heavily, it is not Normally distributed.
Can anyone tell me if these tests still apply and also is it possible to calculate confidence limits?

If the answer is very technical can someone point me to the topic which covers this.

thank you


READERS RESPOND:
(In chronological order. Most recent at the bottom.)

Re: Testing the differences between 2 means
Message posted by Tomi (via 154.32.142.114) on December 11, 2001 at 6:39 PM (ET)

Your sample sizes are large enough to make the t test OK.



Your $5 contribution helps cover part the $500 annual cost of keeping this site online.

Niles Online Sites:RobertNiles.comTheme Park InsiderViolinist.com

RobertNiles.com™, the site, content and services 咀opyright 1996-2002, Robert Niles.
All rights reserved. Questions? Comments? Read my Privacy Policy, or E-mail me!