National Counselor Exam (NCE)

Which statistical test is commonly used to analyze the effects of an independent variable on a dependent variable in a study with one experimental and one control group?

1. ANOVA

2. Chi-square test

3. t-test

4. Regression analysis

The correct answer is: t-test

The correct choice is the t-test, which is widely utilized in research to compare the means of two groups - in this case, an experimental group and a control group. When evaluating the effects of an independent variable (the factor being manipulated) on a dependent variable (the outcome being measured), the t-test helps determine whether there is a statistically significant difference between the average scores or outcomes of the two groups. This method is particularly effective when the sample sizes are small to moderate and the data is normally distributed, making it suitable for many psychological and counseling research applications. The t-test provides insight into whether any observed differences can be attributed to the manipulation of the independent variable or if they could be due to chance. Other statistical tests mentioned serve different purposes. ANOVA is more appropriate when comparing means across three or more groups. The Chi-square test is used for categorical data to assess how expected frequencies compare to observed frequencies, while regression analysis examines the relationship between variables and is not limited to just two groups. Thus, the t-test is the ideal choice for analyzing the effects of an independent variable on a dependent variable with one experimental group and one control group.