Clinical observations at a child guidance center indicate that three interventions hold promise for helping autistic children. The three interventions are behavioral, behavioral coupled with family systems, and behavioral coupled with psychoeducation. However, evidence-based practice dictates that the three interventions be tested to determine which is the most effective. How can a researcher compare the differences among the three interventions using a statistical test?

Question

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ANOVA (analysis of variance) is the most appropriate statistical test for comparing the means of three or more independent groups. It can determine if there are significant differences among the three interventions in terms of effectiveness. T-tests are used for comparing the means of two groups, measures of central tendency describe the middle or average of a set of data, and measures of variability describe the spread or dispersion of the data.

Clinical Observations at a Child Guidance Center Indicate That Three