In: Psychology
What is the difference between a one-way ANOVA with two categories and an independent samples t-test?
Analysis of Variance also known as ANOVA is a statistical method used to find the significant difference between one or more than one variables. ANOVA is of two types; one way ANOVA and two way ANOVA. Analysis of variance is also known as f-test. It is used when one variable is manipulated in more than two ways. For example, an experimenter is trying to understand the different teaching styles on pupils. The teaching style is an independent variable which is manipulated in more than two ways to see it's effects on students. A two way ANOVA is used when there are two independent and two dependent variables and both are manipulated in more than two ways.
An independent t-test on the other hand is a statistical method used to find the significant difference between variables which have been manipulated in two or less than two ways. Considering the above example, if there are only two teaching conditions, then the experimenter uses the t-test because the independent variable has been manipulated in only two ways.
One-way ANOVA is used when the independent variable has been manipulated in more than two-ways and a t-test is used when the independent variable has been manipulated in two or less than two ways.