Sources of Variance

 

Within Groups Variability

a) differences amoung subjects

b) experimental error

- measurement, recording error

 

Between Groups Variability

a) differences amoung subjects

b) experimental error

- measurement, recording error

c) variation in your independent variable

 

 

Maximizing chances of finding significance

(based on ratio of between group: within group variance)

 

Increase Between Group Differences by:

· increasing strength of IV?

· changing the level of treatment of IV?

· use a more sensitive operational definition for the DV?

 

Decrease Within Group Variance

· increase control over extraneous factors

· decrease subject variance

- change design to matched or within subject design

· increase sample size