Which statistical tool is commonly used in quantitative research to analyze variance among groups?

ANOVA, or Analysis of Variance, is a statistical tool specifically designed to assess and compare the differences in variance among multiple groups. It is particularly useful when researchers want to test the hypothesis that at least one group mean is different from the others while controlling for the risk of Type I error that comes from conducting multiple t-tests. By using ANOVA, researchers can determine if variations observed in their data can be attributed to the different groups being analyzed rather than random chance.

In summary, ANOVA allows for a comprehensive comparison of means across multiple groups in a single test, which is essential in quantitative research scenarios such as experimental studies where variations among treatment effects need to be evaluated efficiently.