This study investigated the prevalence in the special education literature of the Type IV error, an error encountered when the finding of a significant interaction in an analysis of variance model is followed by discussion that does not correspond to the correct conceptualization of an interaction. One hundred ninety-three studies were identified that included significant interaction effects based on a two-way ANOVA design. It was found that only 9% of the studies reviewed interpreted the significant interaction consistent with the accurate explanation of a differential or joint effect. These studies did not, however, include a post hoc analysis to determine the cause of the interaction. Seventy-seven percent of the studies with a significant interaction were explained by using the cell means comparison procedure, which does not correspond to the ANOVA model with interaction effects.
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