Conclusion

The one-way analysis of variance is one of the most flexible and widely used procedures in the social sciences. It allows you to test for significant differences between groups and its applicability is not limited to studies with two groups (as the t test is limited). However, an even more flexible procedure is the factorial analysis of variance. Factorial ANOVA allows you to analyze data from studies in which more than one independent variable is manipulated. Not only does this allow you to test more than one hypothesis in a single study but it also allows you to investigate an entirely different type of effect called an “interaction.” Factorial analysis of variance is introduced in the following chapter.