Why is a pooled standard deviation used for a two sample t-test?

cjortiz141t

cjortiz141t

Answered question

2022-09-04

Why is a pooled standard deviation used for a two sample t-test?

Answer & Explanation

Gerardo Kent

Gerardo Kent

Beginner2022-09-05Added 12 answers

Only use a pooled standard deviation if you know that the standard deviations for both populations are equal ( σ 1 = σ 2 )
Rarely does the statistician know the population standard deviations and even more rare would be that they know that the population standard deviations are equal .
In summary, most two-sample mean tests are done under the assumption that the standard deviations are not equal . Under this scenario, pooled standard deviations are not used.

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