Comparisons of treatment means when factors do not interact in two-factorial studies

Publication Type:
Journal Article
Citation:
Amino Acids, 2012, 42 (5), pp. 2031 - 2035
Issue Date:
2012-05-01
Filename Description Size
10.1007%2Fs00726-011-0924-0.pdfPublished Version269.95 kB
Adobe PDF
Full metadata record
Scientists in the fields of nutrition and other biological sciences often design factorial studies to test the hypotheses of interest and importance. In the case of two-factorial studies, it is widely recognized that the analysis of factor effects is generally based on treatment means when the interaction of the factors is statistically significant, and involves multiple comparisons of treatment means. However, when the two factors do not interact, a common understanding among biologists is that comparisons among treatment means cannot or should not be made. Here, we bring this misconception into the attention of researchers. Additionally, we indicate what kind of comparisons among the treatment means can be performed when there is a nonsignificant interaction among two factors. Such information should be useful in analyzing the experimental data and drawing meaningful conclusions. © Springer-Verlag 2011.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: