What is the role of post hoc tests in statistical analysis?

Post hoc tests play a critical role in statistical analysis, particularly after conducting an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). When researchers find significant differences among group means with ANOVA, they do not automatically know which specific groups are different from each other. This is where post hoc tests come in.

Post hoc tests are designed to conduct multiple comparisons and identify the specific pairs of means that differ while controlling for the increased risk of Type I error that comes with performing multiple statistical tests. For example, if the ANOVA indicates that at least one group mean is different, post hoc tests such as Tukey's HSD or Bonferroni can help pinpoint exactly which groups differ. This allows researchers to draw more precise conclusions about their data. Hence, this answer accurately reflects the function of post hoc tests in the statistical analysis process.