What is a simple effect?

What is a simple effect?

• A. Occurs where one level of one factor has a significant effect across levels of another factor
• B. The overall mean effect across all groups
• C. The main effect of a factor across its levels
• D. The interaction between two factors

Answer: (A)

A simple effect is the effect of one factor examined at a single level of another factor. In a factorial design, you look at how one factor influences the outcome within a fixed level of the other factor. This is done by comparing the levels of the first factor while holding the second factor at a specific level (for example, compare A1 vs A2 at B1, and again at B2). If that comparison is significant at that level of the second factor, you’ve identified a simple effect. This matches the idea described: one level of one factor shows a significant difference across the levels of the other factor, which is exactly what a simple effect captures. The concept helps interpret interactions by showing where the effect of a factor actually appears.

A simple effect is the effect of one factor examined at a single level of another factor. In a factorial design, you look at how one factor influences the outcome within a fixed level of the other factor. This is done by comparing the levels of the first factor while holding the second factor at a specific level (for example, compare A1 vs A2 at B1, and again at B2). If that comparison is significant at that level of the second factor, you’ve identified a simple effect.

This matches the idea described: one level of one factor shows a significant difference across the levels of the other factor, which is exactly what a simple effect captures. The concept helps interpret interactions by showing where the effect of a factor actually appears.