This statistical procedure, widely utilized in various fields, serves as a non-parametric alternative to the independent samples t-test. It assesses whether two independent groups have been sampled from populations with the same distribution. The analysis is often conducted using a statistical software package designed for data analysis, allowing researchers to efficiently implement and interpret the results of this test.
The significance of this approach lies in its ability to analyze data that does not meet the assumptions of parametric tests, such as normality. Its adaptability makes it invaluable in situations where data is ordinal or when parametric assumptions are violated. Historically, the manual calculation of this test was laborious, but modern software has streamlined the process, contributing to its widespread adoption across disciplines.