While these examples were somewhat simplified, the test statistics can be used to measure all kinds of subject matter.

For example, researchers investigating the impact of a blood pressure medication could use the t-test to compare blood pressure measurements of a group of hypertensive patients taking the medication, with blood pressure measurements of a larger population of hypertensive patients not taking the medication to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups.

Doctors could use the z-score formula to determine how a patient’s blood sugar level measured in comparison to the average level of other patients of similar age and weight to determine if treatment is needed. These models are the tools healthcare professionals use to make critical decisions and to ultimately advance the field of medicine.