t-test for Dependent Samples - Within-Group Variation
As explained in Elementary concepts, the size of a relation between two variables, such as the one measured by a difference in means between two groups, depends to a large extent on the differentiation of values within the group.
Depending on how differentiated the values are in each group, a given "raw difference" in group means indicates either a stronger or weaker relationship between the independent (grouping) and dependent variable. For example, if the mean WCC (White Cell Count) was 102 in males and 104 in females, then this difference of "only" 2 points would be extremely important if all values for males fell within a range of 101 to 103, and all scores for females fell within a range of 103 to 105; for example, we would be able to predict WCC pretty well based on gender. However, if the same difference of 2 was obtained from very differentiated scores (e.g., if their range was 0-200), then we would consider the difference entirely negligible. Reduction of the within-group variation increases the sensitivity of our test.