As with any ANOVA, a repeated measure ANOVA tests the equality of means. However, a repeated measure ANOVA is used when all members of a random sample are measured under a number of different conditions. As the sample is exposed to each condition in turn, the measurement of the dependent variable is repeated. Using a standard ANOVA in this case is not appropriate because it fails to model the correlation between the repeated measures: the data violate the ANOVA assumption of independence. Some ANOVA designs combine repeated measures factors and independent group factors. These types of designs are called mixed-model ANOVA and they have a split plot structure since they involve a mixture of one between-groups factor and one within-subjects factor.

   The work present an application of the mixed model factorial ANOVA, using scores obtained by 120 secondary school students in mathematics. The between group factor is the different categories of students (science, commercial humanities) with three levels while the within group factor is the three years spent in senior secondary School.