Concept in Definition ABC

These acronyms correspond to “Analysis of Variance” in English and refer to a method or toolstatistics, also known in Spanish as analysis of variance of a factor.

What is ANOVA?

It is one of the most widely used statistical techniques to compare groups of measures and is normally used to establish similarities and differences between three or more different groups. Through ANOVA, an analysis is established to comparatively evaluate results in different classifications or groups. In this way, it is possible to calculate whether the mean values ​​are the same in the different groups studied.

This comparative analysis is carried out in those contexts in which the groups studied are independent of each other, but the comparison global of them can offer statistical results that are of interest. In short, the results obtained indicate whether the mean values ​​between two or more groups are similar or different. If the one-way ANOVA analysis is not used, the differences between the different groups studied would depend on the

observation subjective of each observer.

Two practical ANOVA cases

This tool is used to know the variance that exists in a factor with respect to a quantitative dependent variable. Thus, if we carry out a study in which three groups of different pathologies are analyzed and in each of them the intensity of pain is measured, the factor would be the pathology with three levels and the quantitative dependent variable would be pain measured with an instrument, for example a argometer.

In an engine factory that has two battery suppliers, another supplier appears that offers its battery at a higher price but with better technical properties. The factory managers do a test comparing 10 batteries from the new supplier with 10 batteries from their two traditional suppliers. The results obtained after the comparison show evidence of the superiority of the new provider and, consequently, it is useful to incorporate the technique ANOVA.

The use of ANOVA as a statistical tool is particularly useful in those situations in which it is necessary to analyze viable alternatives

In ANOVA, three elements are normally considered: the variable under study, the constant that indicates the response of all the groups analyzed and the differential factor of each group.

One-way ANOVA analysis is very popular in the field of psychology and in most studies on social Sciences.

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Topics in ANOVA