| Session Title: A Non-Technical Introduction to Analysis of Variance and Linear Regression |
| Demonstration Session 521 to be held in Mineral Hall Section B on Friday, Nov 7, 9:15 AM to 10:45 AM |
| Sponsored by the Quantitative Methods: Theory and Design TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Julius Najab, George Mason University, jnajab@gmu.edu |
| Caroline Wiley, University of Arizona, crhummel@u.arizona.edu |
| Susan Han, George Mason University, shan8@gmu.edu |
| Abstract: This demonstration is targeted toward evaluators unfamiliar with prevalent analyses (Analysis of Variance and linear regression) in evaluation work. The relative simplicity and ease of interpretation of the General Linear Model (GLM) makes it a common tool among program evaluators. However, failure to consider the role of and properly treat variance within the GLM in a program evaluation could potentially result in inaccurate inferences being made about program effectiveness. This demonstration will focus on variability and how variance is influential in conducting and interpreting ANOVA and linear regression (common GLM analyses). The session will linearly progress from data examination to proper statistical option selection, and end with interpretation of results. By the end of the demonstration, a non-technical audience will gain a better conceptual and technical understanding of how and why variance influences GLM analyses. |