Question

A researcher conducted a study on mindfulness and body mass index (BMI). She collected BMI scores from a large group of participants who had completed a mindfulness training program and then compared their scores to the national average BMI scores from the general population. What type of test should be used to see if taking the mindfulness program was beneficial for BMI scores not?

Group of answer choices

One-sample t test

Dependent-means (paired-samples) t test

Independent-means (Independent-samples) t test

Pearson's correlation

Answer 1

We know that,

Independent samples can occur in two scenarios.

Testing the difference of the means between two fixed populations we test the differences between samples from each population. When both samples are randomly selected, we can make inferences about the populations.

When working with subjects (people, pets, etc.), if we select a random sample and then randomly assign half of the subjects to one group and half to another we can make inferences about the populations.

Dependent samples are a bit different. Two samples of data are dependent when each score in one sample is paired with a specific score in the other sample. In short, these types of samples are related to each other.

Hence,

Here samples are independent.

Therefore, correct answer is,

Independent-means (Independent-samples) t test

i.e., Third option is correct.

Thank you.