title: Significance of the t-test applied to ocular measures.
abstract: An example, drawn from some photokeratometric measurements, is used to illustrate the use and misuse of statistical tests of significance on biomedical data. The type of test which must be applied is governed by whether or not inherent pairing exists between the variables. The possible consequences of using a method which erroneously assumes independence of the two samples is examined.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001699:Biometry / Q000379:methods*; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005123:Eye / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000592:standards*