Introduction
The chi-square test is a statistical tool used to check if there is a relationship between two categorical variables. It is widely used in social work research for analyzing survey data.
Uses of Chi-Square Test
- Test of Independence: Checks if two variables are related or independent.
- Test of Goodness of Fit: Compares observed data with expected data to see if they match.
Example:
To find out whether gender is related to job preference, a chi-square test can be used to analyze the responses from male and female participants.
Conditions for Use
- Data must be in frequency form (not percentages).
- Sample size should be reasonably large.
- Variables should be categorical (e.g., gender, education level).
Conclusion
The chi-square test is simple but powerful for studying relationships in data. It helps social workers make data-based decisions in research and planning.