Choosing between a t-test, Mann–Whitney test, and ANOVA depends on the number of groups being compared, the type and distribution of the data, and whether the assumptions of parametric testing are reasonably met. A t-test is commonly used to compare the means of two independent or paired groups when the data are approximately normally distributed, while the Mann–Whitney test provides a non-parametric alternative for comparing two independent groups when normality or other assumptions are not appropriate. ANOVA is generally used to compare means across three or more groups and can help determine whether at least one group differs significantly from the others. Selecting the appropriate test is essential for producing reliable statistical results and avoiding misleading conclusions in biomedical research.
