Spreadsheet Tutorial 4: t-Test

Topic

Resource Type

Level

High School — General High School — AP/IB College

Used In

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10 Users

Description

In this activity, students explore different ways of calculating t-values and performing t-tests using built-in functions in Excel or Google Sheets. Students apply what they learned by plotting beak size measurements of Galapágos finches collected before and after a drought.

This activity covers different methods for performing t-tests, including how to calculate t-values manually, a table of critical values of t, and how to use the built-in TTEST function to perform a t-test. It also includes doing a t-test using Excel’s Analysis Toolpak.

Student Learning Targets

Use a spreadsheet program to perform a t-test to determine if two sets of measurements are significantly different.

Estimated Time

One to two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

alpha level, Galapágos finches, null hypothesis, paired t-test, t-value

Terms of Use

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