Which statistical test compares the means of two different groups?

• A. Paired
• B. Independent
• C. One-sample
• D. Two-tailed

Answer: (B)

When you want to compare the means of two different groups, you use an independent samples t-test. The key idea is that the groups are independent of each other, so the test evaluates whether their population means differ in any direction. If the groups were the same people measured twice or matched pairs, you’d use a paired t-test because the data are related. A one-sample test compares a single group's mean to a known value, not two distinct groups. A two-tailed description refers to the direction of the alternative hypothesis (whether the means differ in either direction) and isn’t a separate test type by itself.