Research Methods and Applications for Student Affairs

Chapter ElevenTesting Differences

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

• Understand the purpose and role of difference statistics.
• Differentiate between the major types of difference statistics.
• Read difference statistics in journal articles and reports.
• Evaluate difference statistics based on how data are collected, analyzed, and reported.
• Apply interpretations of difference statistics to student affairs practice.

Difference statistics examine change between groups, allowing researchers to make inferences (evidenced guesses) about a population, to distinguish groups, and to track changes over time. As inferential statistics, difference statistics offer generalizability, or applications beyond data that ...