The One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is a procedure for testing the hypothesis that K population means are equal, where K > 2. The One-way ANOVA compares the means of the samples or groups in order to make inferences about the population means. The One-way ANOVA is also called a single factor analysis of variance because there is only one independent variable or factor. The independent vari...

The statistical technique of analysis of variance is often used by biologists as a measure of the relative strength or importance of causal factors. I argue that it is a tool ill-suited to this purpose, on several grounds. I suggest a superior alternative and outline its implications. I finish with a diagnosis of the source of error-an unwitting inheritance of bad philosophy that now requires t...