A statistical procedure used for comparing two independent groups when the dependent variable is ordinal or continuous but not normally distributed. It assesses whether two samples are likely to derive from the same population. The software package SPSS facilitates the execution of this non-parametric test, providing an interface for data input, test configuration, and result interpretation. For instance, researchers might employ this method in SPSS to determine if there is a significant difference in customer satisfaction scores between two different product designs.
This test offers an alternative to the independent samples t-test when the assumptions of normality are violated. Its significance stems from its robustness against outliers and non-normal distributions, making it a valuable tool in various fields such as medicine, social sciences, and market research. The test’s historical development provided researchers with a method to analyze data without the constraints of parametric assumptions, broadening the scope of statistical inference in diverse contexts. Its ease of implementation within the SPSS environment further enhances its accessibility to researchers with varying levels of statistical expertise.
