Visual ANOVA is a simple little program that lets you put all this theory we've been describing into a simple visual whole. It assumes that you've read the Meanings and Intuitions section and have have understood the the general ideas at least. Even if your understanding of the previous section is incomplete at this time, it is worth playing with Visual ANOVA since that may clear up the big picture of ANOVA for you.
Technical Requirements:
Web Browser, Java, Flash.
Comments:
jensen@psych.utah.edu
tom.malloy@psych.utah.edu
Content Quality Concerns:
While the material successfully illustrates the relationship between within- and between-group variability, one additional piece that would make the material more complete is illustrating the effect of sample size as well.
Content Quality Strengths:
The author is very clear that this applet is not a numerical calculator, but instead demonstrates the relations "among important concepts" visually. It does an excellent job of this visual representation. The material clearly illustrates how within- and between-group variability combine to change the value of the F statistic.
Ease of Use Concerns:
Changing the variability within groups with the yellow buttons is a bit awkward. It would be preferable to grab the edges of the red icons to resize them.
Ease of Use Strengths:
The applet is quite easy to use and has very clear instructions. The flash program is of very high design quality and is very visually appealing.
Potential Effectiveness Concerns:
If an instructor wants to use the material for more than just a quick in class demonstration, it will take some creativity on the part of the instructor to get students to use it effectively. There is not a great deal you can do with this applet - it has only one quick idea to get across, but it is a wonderful visualization of that idea.
Potential Effectiveness Strengths:
Students can easily "discover" the effects of small -> large within group variability on the F-statistic, and check their intuitions. The material is fairly straightforward and easy for students to understand with very little introduction.
Potential Effectiveness Rating:
4
Source Code Available:
Source Code Available
Intended User Role:
Learner
Teacher
Material Type:
Resource Type:
Statistical Topic:
Cost:
Free for All
Format:
Math Level: