analysis of variance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Academic
Quick answer
What does “analysis of variance” mean?
A statistical method (often abbreviated as ANOVA) for testing hypotheses about whether the means of two or more groups are significantly different.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A statistical method (often abbreviated as ANOVA) for testing hypotheses about whether the means of two or more groups are significantly different.
A fundamental statistical technique used to partition observed data variability into components attributable to different sources (e.g., treatment effects, random error), allowing comparison of group means while controlling for experimental conditions. Often extended to more complex designs like factorial ANOVA or MANOVA.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling conventions follow national norms for surrounding text (e.g., 'analyse' vs. 'analyze'), but the fixed term is 'analysis of variance' in both regions.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations. The abbreviation 'ANOVA' is universally used in statistical literature.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both dialects, confined to statistics, scientific research, and data analysis contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “analysis of variance” in a Sentence
perform ~ on [data]conduct ~ to test [hypothesis]apply ~ to [dataset]The ~ showed/revealed/indicated [result]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “analysis of variance” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The ANOVA results were significant.
- She used an ANOVA model.
American English
- The ANOVA results were significant.
- She used an ANOVA model.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in advanced market research, Six Sigma, or quality control reporting where experimental data is formally compared.
Academic
Common in research papers across sciences, psychology, medicine, and social sciences for comparing experimental group outcomes.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in statistics, data science, experimental design, and any field employing inferential statistics on grouped data.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “analysis of variance”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “analysis of variance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “analysis of variance”
- Using it as a plural (e.g., 'the analyses of variance were...' when referring to one procedure).
- Confusing 'variance' here (statistical dispersion) with 'variation' in a general sense.
- Using 'analysis of variance' as a verb (e.g., 'we will analysis of variance the data' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, ANOVA is the standard acronym and is used interchangeably with the full term in technical writing.
Yes, for two groups, ANOVA yields the same result as an independent samples t-test. It is a generalisation of the t-test to more than two groups.
The key initial result is the p-value associated with the F-statistic. A p-value below a set significance level (e.g., 0.05) suggests at least one group mean is significantly different from the others.
Post-hoc tests (like Tukey's HSD or Scheffé's test) are required to determine which specific group pairs are significantly different from each other.
A statistical method (often abbreviated as ANOVA) for testing hypotheses about whether the means of two or more groups are significantly different.
Analysis of variance is usually technical/academic in register.
Analysis of variance: in British English it is pronounced /əˌnæl.ə.sɪs əv ˈveə.ri.əns/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˌnæl.ə.sɪs əv ˈver.i.əns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of it as a tool for ANalyzing the Variance Of group means: ANalysis Of VAriance -> AN-OVA.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SIEVE separating systematic effects (signal) from random noise.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of an analysis of variance?