This statistical measure, representing the proportion of variance in a dependent variable explained by an independent variable in an ANOVA design, is computed by dividing the sum of squares between groups by the total sum of squares. For instance, a value of 0.25 indicates that 25% of the variability in the outcome measure can be attributed to the experimental manipulation.
Providing a standardized measure of effect size, this calculation allows researchers to assess the practical significance of their findings, going beyond simply determining statistical significance. It facilitates comparisons across different studies and aids in meta-analysis. Developed within the context of experimental design, it serves as a valuable tool for understanding the magnitude of relationships between variables.
