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The t test is used to test for differences in means or to test a criterion measure between two groups of scores. Whether an investigator designs a study where the subjects' scores from one group are independent of the scores in the other group (independent t test), the basic assumptions of the test are identical. Hence, the subjects' scores from each group are assumed to be normally distributed and the variance of the two groups of scores are assumed to be homogeneous. The basic differences between the independent t test and the correlated t test are in calculating the t statistic and the df and in the method in which subjects are assigned to each group. If an investigator uses the same subjects in each group, then the correlated t test must be used. If subjects are matched or paired by some related variable, such as age, height, or weight, then the correlated t test should be used. In all other cases, the independent t test would be appropriate.

Background and Purpose. The main purpose of this study was to determine the interrater and intrarater reliability of measurements obtained during palpation of the craniosacral rate at the head and feet. Palpated craniosacral rates of head and feet measured simultaneously were also compared. Subjects. Twenty-eight adult subjects and 2 craniosacral examiners participated in the study. Methods. A withinsubjects repeated-measures design was used. A standard cubicle privacy curtain, hung over the subject's waist, was used to prevent the examiners from seeing each other. Results. Interrater intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were .08 at the head and .19 at the feet. Intrarater ICCs ranged from .18 to .30. Craniosacral rates simultaneously palpated at the head and feet were different. Conclusion and Discussion. The results did not support the theories that underlie craniosacral therapy or claims that craniosacral motion can be palpated reliably. [Rogers JS, Witt PL, Gross MT, et al. Simultaneous palpation of the craniosacral rate at the head and feet: intrarater and interrater reliability and rate comparisons.

UK dental nurses can be trained to fill the role of an orthodontic auxiliary. It would appear that an introductory clinical skills course of one week followed by an orthodontic skills training of three weeks is sufficient for a qualified dental nurse of above average abilities such as typifies those who are currently applying for places on UK dental hygiene courses. It is estimated that a further period of nine months supervised training will be necessary for those who have successfully completed such a training to develop clinically useful speeds when delivering these skills.

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