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When should we use ‘non-parametric’ techniques?

We only use parametric techniques (like t test, z test) when we are certain about the distribution of the variable of interest.

When we don’t know its distribution, it is safer to use non-parametric tests. These tests have no assumptions about distribution of the dependent variable.

In fact, it has been argued, quite sharply, that in all social sciences, we should use non-parametric, rather than parametric, tests.