In quantitative research, inferential statistics are numerical values that enable a researcher to reach conclusions that extend beyond the immediate data alone. Which inferential statistic assesses whether the means of two groups are statistically different from each other?

Choice A reason: The p-value indicates the probability that observed results occurred by chance. It is used in conjunction with other tests, such as the t-test, but does not itself compare group means. Choice B reason: ANOVA is used to compare means across three or more groups. While it is an inferential statistic, it is not the best choice when comparing only two groups. Choice C reason: The t-test is specifically designed to compare the means of two groups to determine if they are statistically different. It is widely used in clinical and experimental research for this purpose. Choice D reason: Pearson’s r correlation measures the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables. It does not assess differences in group means.