[Statistics for dentists (VIII). Student t-test].

Abstract

In order to test whether the mean scores of either two paired or independent samples deviate from one another, the Student t-test could be applied. In the paired samples case, the mean score of the differences between the matched scores is analyzed. In case of two independent samples, the difference between the two means is analyzed. In both cases the t-value is the difference divided by the error in difference, which, in combination with the degrees of freedom, results in the p-value.