In a one-way between-subjects ANOVA,the mean square within groups ( )describes
A)the variability of individual scores in the sample.
B)an estimate of the variability of individual scores in the population.
C)differences between the means as an estimate of the differences between means found in the population.
D)the total variability in the population.

Question

In a one-way between-subjects ANOVA,the mean square within groups (  )describes
A)the variability of individual scores in the sample. 
B)an estimate of the variability of individual scores in the population. 
C)differences between the means as an estimate of the differences between means found in the population. 
D)the total variability in the population.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mean square within groups (MS_within) is an estimate of the variability of individual scores in the population. It is calculated by dividing the sum of squares within groups (SS_within) by the degrees of freedom within groups (df_within). The MS_within reflects the amount of variance that is due to random error, or individual differences within each group, and can be used to assess the size of the treatment effect, which is estimated by the mean square between groups.

In a One-Way Between-Subjects ANOVA,the Mean Square Within Groups