Surveys & Forecasts: Research That Drives Business

Analysis of Variance

Objective

To decompose the total variance of an experiment into variance attributable to the effects of specific variables.

Examples/Applications

  • In-store experiments
  • Market tests
  • Product tests/concept tests
  • Survey order effects
  • Picking discriminators in segmentation studies
  • Conjoint measurement

Assumptions

  • Samples are drawn from normal population
  • All samples have the same variance
  • Additivity (all means are a function of marginal means and the general mean)

Mechanics

  • Total sum of squares
  • Between groups sum of squares
  • Within groups sum of squares
  • Degrees of freedom
  • Mean square
  • F ratio

Seminal Articles/Texts

  • Winer, B.J., "Statistical Principles in Experimental Design", McGraw-Hill 1962

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