An independent t-test is a statistical method used to compare the means of two separate groups to determine if there is a significant difference between them. This test assumes that the data from both groups are normally distributed and that the variances are equal. It is commonly used in research to analyze the effects of different treatments or conditions on distinct populations. To conduct an independent t-test, researchers calculate the t-statistic, which measures the difference between the group means relative to the variability within the groups. A resulting p-value indicates whether the observed difference is statistically significant, helping researchers draw conclusions about their data.