A researcher wants to compare mean blood glucose levels across three dietary groups (low-carb, moderate-carb, high-carb). The data are normally distributed. The MOST appropriate statistical test is:
- A One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) ✓
- B Student's paired t-test
- C Chi-square test
- D Wilcoxon rank-sum test
Correct answer: A. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
Explanation
One-way ANOVA is the appropriate test for comparing means of a continuous normally distributed variable across three or more independent groups. A t-test compares only two groups; applying repeated t-tests inflates Type I error. Chi-square tests compare proportions of categorical data. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test is the non-parametric alternative to the two-sample t-test, used when normality is not met. Post-hoc tests (Tukey's HSD, Bonferroni) are applied after ANOVA to identify which specific group pairs differ.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
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