What test assesses whether variances in two populations are equal in a two-sample comparison?

What test assesses whether variances in two populations are equal in a two-sample comparison?

• A. Two-sample t-test
• B. Homogeneity of variance test
• C. Shapiro-Wilk test
• D. Levene's test

Answer: (B)

In a two-sample comparison, you want to know whether the variability (variances) of the two groups is alike. This is about homogeneity of variances—a key assumption that influences whether you use a pooled-variance t-test or switch to a version that doesn’t assume equal variances (like Welch’s). The option that uses the phrase “homogeneity of variance test” directly describes the purpose of checking whether the two populations have the same variance. Levene’s test is a common concrete method that does this, so the general label matches the concept of testing equal variances. The other options target different ideas: the two-sample t-test compares means, Shapiro-Wilk tests normality, and Levene’s test is specifically the method for testing equality of variances (which is the same goal, but the listed choice names the broad concept rather than a specific procedure).

In a two-sample comparison, you want to know whether the variability (variances) of the two groups is alike. This is about homogeneity of variances—a key assumption that influences whether you use a pooled-variance t-test or switch to a version that doesn’t assume equal variances (like Welch’s). The option that uses the phrase “homogeneity of variance test” directly describes the purpose of checking whether the two populations have the same variance. Levene’s test is a common concrete method that does this, so the general label matches the concept of testing equal variances.

The other options target different ideas: the two-sample t-test compares means, Shapiro-Wilk tests normality, and Levene’s test is specifically the method for testing equality of variances (which is the same goal, but the listed choice names the broad concept rather than a specific procedure).