Variance Heterogeneity in Published Psychological Research

Abstract

Parametric assumptions for statistical tests include normality and equal variances. Micceri (1989) found that data frequently violate the normality assumption; variances have received less attention. We recorded within-group variances of dependent variables for 455 studies published in leading psychology journals. Sample variances differed, often substantially, suggesting frequent violation of the assumption of equal population variances. Parallel analyses of equal-variance artificial data otherwise matched to the characteristics of the empirical data show that unequal sample variances in the empirical data exceed expectations from normal sampling error and can adversely affect Type I error rates of parametric statistical tests. Variance heterogeneity was unrelated to relative group sizes or total sample size and observed across subdisciplines of psychology in experimental and correlational research. These results underscore the value of examining variances and, when appropriate, using data-analytic methods robust to unequal variances. We provide a standardized index for examining and reporting variance heterogeneity.