Question

Describe a scenario where a researcher could use a One-Way ANOVA to answer a research question. Fully describe the scenario and the variables involved and explain the rationale for your answer. Why is that test appropriate to use?

Answer 1

Let us firstly try to understand as to what is a one way ANOVA ?

Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is a hypothesis-testing technique used to test the equality of two or more population (or treatment) means by examining the variances of samples that are taken.

It allows us to determine whether the differences between the samples are simply due to random error (sampling errors) or whether there are systematic treatment effects that causes the mean in one group to differ from the mean in another.

When we conduct it for difference analysis owing to one independent variable only ,it is called as one way ANOVA.

Example

Suppose the researchers want to find out the level of itching caused by the use of chlorinated medicines . They can design an experiment wherein they take 80 subjects and divide them randomly into two groups of 40 each .The researchers give them two type of medicines . One group is given the chlorinated medicine and the other group is only. given placebo.

After a month, they are monitored for complaints of itching and recorded .

This experiment can be conducted by one way ANOVA to test if the use of chlorinated medicine causes itching.