STATISTICAL TESTS OF SIGNIFICANCE

(Statistics) Mathematical methods of stating the probability that two data sets are not from the same Population; specifically, that there is an actual difference in some characteristic between the two groups. These tests are commonly used in instances in which one sample has been affected by some disturbance (cause and effect) and the other has not. Statistical tests are designed to determine if measured differences between the two sample groups are due to random sample variability or to cause-and-effect relationships.