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ANOVA FAQ

This page contains answers to questions you might have about the CALSTAT programs and the textbook.

  1. I installed the CALSTAT programs successfully, but some of the windows do not fit in the screen, or some of the buttons do not fit into the window. What can I do about that?
  2. The ANOVA table I got when I clicked on "Print ANOVA Table" is not aligned properly. How can I fix that?
  3. I'd like to run the CALSTAT programs in full-screen mode, like WORD normally runs. Can I do that?
  4. I don't understand some of the terms used by a program. Help!
  5. I'm confused about the number of factors the FACTORIAL ANOVA program wants...
  6. One of my classmates gets labels on her graphs and tables, but FACTORIAL ANOVA won't give them to me. How did she do it?
  7. I've found what I think is an error in the textbook. I know I'm probably wrong about that, but could you check?
  8. Someone told that the analysis of variance was a 60's analysis, and that I should be learning logistic regression instead. Is ANOVA outdated?
  9. I already own a textbook, but I hate SPSS and would love to have a user-friendly program like CALSTAT. Can I just buy the suite of programs?
  10. I was happily running one of the CALSTAT programs, when all of a sudden the screen froze and a message appeared. When I clicked OK on the message box, the program shut down and I lost all of the data I had entered. What happened?
  11. I clicked on Help (or hit the F1 key) while using a CALSTAT program, but I didn't get help. Instead I got a message that help was no longer available. Why have you deserted me in my hour of need?

I installed the CALSTAT programs successfully, but some of the windows do not fit in the screen, or some of the buttons do not fit into the window. What can I do about that?

The cause of the problem is the screen resolution set on your computer. The version of CALSTAT distributed with the first edition of the textbook (version 2.0) looks fine if the resolution is 800x600 or 1024x768. One way to resolve the problem is to change your screen resolution to either of those while you are running the CALSTAT programs. The change can be accomplished through Control Panel, Display, Settings.

The first service pack for CALSTAT, SP1, expands the set of screen resolutions accommodated by the program. The service pack updates the programs to version 2.1 and allows the following additional resolutions to work: 1280x720, 1280x768, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1680x1050 (others may work but have not been tested). The service pack also corrects some minor inconveniences and is recommended for all users. You can install the service pack by clicking here, then choose "Run". Note that if you changed the default location for the CALSTAT files (C:\Program Files\CALSTAT) when you installed the suite from the CD, you will have to make the same change during the installation of the service pack.

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The ANOVA table I got when I clicked on "Print ANOVA Table" is not aligned properly. How can I fix that?

The table aligns properly only if you are using a monospaced font, such as Courier New. The easiest way to get a properly aligned table is to use the alternative printing option of printing to a WORD document.

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I'd like to run the CALSTAT programs in full-screen mode, like WORD normally runs. Can I do that?

CALSTAT is a very myopia-friendly suite of programs. If you saw my glasses, you would know why. Within each program, there is a toggle (Run Maximized) available through the Set Preferences Menu on the opening screen. Not only will the program fill the screen, but the characters will be nice and big. Once you set that toggle, it will retain its setting until you change it again (the setting will not be saved if you are running on a network that does not allow changes to be saved unless the changes are made by someone with administrative privileges).

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I don't understand some of the terms used by a program. Help!

The answer to your plea is contained in the last word. Each CALSTAT program has a Help Menu that provides access to all kinds of useful information. ANOVA terminology is also littered throughout the textbook.

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I'm confused about the number of factors the FACTORIAL ANOVA program wants...

A factorial design will always include either replicates or subjects as one of the factors. In an independent groups design, the Replicates factor is simply the number of scores per cell.

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One of my classmates gets labels on her graphs and tables, but FACTORIAL ANOVA won't give them to me. How did she do it?

You could have asked her; she might have enjoyed showing off her knowledge. But I'll be glad to tell you. She opened the Set Preferences Menu in the opening window, and toggled the Labels for Levels option.

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I've found what I think is an error in the textbook. I know I'm probably wrong about that, but could you check?

Alas, not even textbook writers can be fully trusted. Let's say a few errors were introduced during transcription or typesetting (it's not necessarily true, but let's say it). Click here to see a list of the errors that have already been found. If you think you have found another, let me know.

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Someone told that the analysis of variance was a 60's analysis, and that I should be learning logistic regression instead. Is ANOVA outdated?

That's like saying the music of the Beatles is out of date. For designed experiments, nothing beats the clarity afforded by analysis of variance. Factorial designs, which go hand in hand with analysis of variance, are the key to incisive experiments.

Newer techniques certainly have their place. ANOVA is not the technique of choice for some kinds of research, particularly observational research. I'm told that it's permissible to take more than one methodology course in most academic programs...  

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I already own a textbook, but I hate SPSS and would love to have a user-friendly program like CALSTAT. Can I just buy the suite of programs?

No, the program suite is sold only with the book. However, the price for the combination is low enough that you can look at the purchase as though you're buying a great program. and getting a book thrown in for free. If you are strapped for funds, you might see how much can get for your old text from the bookstore's buyback program...

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I was happily running one of the CALSTAT programs, when all of a sudden the screen froze and a message appeared. When I clicked OK on the message box, the program shut down and I lost all of the data I had entered. What happened?

Congratulations! You have found a bug in the program. That means you were creative enough to do something the program did not expect and does not know how to handle. If you tell me about it, providing as much information as possible about what happened prior to the crash, I will attempt to re-create the error and repair it for the next edition.

You can avoid the annoying loss of data by forming the habit of saving the data in a file after you enter it in the Data Entry Window. I have to admit that, like regular flossing, routine saving is a habit I advocate more than I practice. 

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I clicked on Help (or hit the F1 key) while using a CALSTAT program, but I didn't get help. Instead I got a message that help was no longer available. Why have you deserted me in my hour of need?

This is one of the many reasons Microsoft is such a beloved company. In their wisdom, they have decided that the Help engine used by all programs for the past few years is now "obsolete." So if you have installed the Vista operating system, you will get this message from CALSTAT and many other programs (including Microsoft's own programs). They must think I have nothing better to do than to update all of my programs (and after the update, they will not run any better, they will just maintain the status quo).

There is an easy solution, fortunately. You have to go to Microsoft's web site and download the "obsolete" help engine especially crafted for Vista. It installs itself without any thought on your part; just say yes to their questions. Here is the link to the download:

 

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