What does ANOVA stand for?

ANOVA stands for Analysis of Variance. This statistical method is used to determine if there are any statistically significant differences between the means of three or more independent groups. The primary purpose of ANOVA is to analyze the variance within groups and between groups to determine how group means compare. By doing so, it helps to assess whether any observed differences in sample means are genuine or if they could have occurred by chance due to random sampling variability.

Other terms listed, such as "Analysis of Values," "Assessment of Variations," and "Analysis of Variables," do not accurately describe the function of ANOVA and are not recognized terminology in the context of statistical analysis. This makes "Analysis of Variance" the clear and correct definition.