Independent sample values in one group are not related to or do not provide information about values in other groups. Independent groups contain different subjects and there is no meaningful way to pair them. For example, an experiment using independent samples is a medication trial that has a control group and a treatment group with different subjects.

Dependent sample subjects in one group do provide information about subjects in other groups. The groups are the same set of values or different values that analysts are paired meaningfully. An example of an experiment with dependent samples is a fitness training program assessment with pre and post-test scores from the same group of people.

thoughts???