How to Perform Levene's Test in Excel

This guide will explain how to perform Levene’s test in Excel.

You can use Levene’s test to assess whether the variances of two or more groups are equal.

A Real Example of Using Levene’s Test in Excel
How to Perform Levene’s Test in Excel

Levene’s test is an inferential statistic that you can use to determine whether a variable has the same variance in two or more groups.

If the resulting p-value is low enough, we can reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there is a statistically significant difference between variances within the tested groups.

Let’s take a look at a quick example of a situation where we can perform Levene’s test.

Suppose we want to test the effectiveness of different fertilizers on crop growth. We’ll set up three sample groups: Group A was grown using a natural fertilizer, Group B used an artificial fertilizer, and Group C is our control group.

One way we can determine the effect of the fertilizer is by comparing the variance in height among groups. We can use Levene’s test to know if the variances between groups are equal.

We can do this by creating another table that returns the absolute differences between the heights and the mean height of each sample population.

We’ll perform an ANOVA test on this new table. ANOVA refers to a statistical test comparing the difference between group means.

In Excel, we can use the Analysis Toolpak to perform the ANOVA test quickly.

Now that we know when to perform Levene’s test in Excel, let’s learn how to set it up on an actual sample spreadsheet.

A Real Example of Using Levene’s Test in Excel

The following section provides a detailed example of how to perform Levene’s test in Excel. We will also explain the formulas and tools used in these examples.

First, let’s take a look at our sample data.

We have three groups of test scores. Each group took the same test but studied using a different technique. We’ve also calculated the mean score of each sample group.

To perform Levene’s test, we must find the absolute difference between each height and the sample group mean. We’ll label this new dataset ‘Absolute Residuals’.

To get the values in Column F, we just need to use the following formula:

=ABS($B3-$B$17)

Next, we’ll use the Analysis Toolpak add-in to generate an ANOVA report.

The indicated p-value will determine whether there is a variance between groups.

Do you want to take a closer look at our examples? You can make your own copy of the spreadsheet above using the link attached below.

Make a copy of our sample spreadsheet

If you’re ready to perform Levene’s test in Excel, head over to the next section to read our step-by-step breakdown on how to do it!

How to Perform Levene’s Test in Excel

This section will guide you through each step needed to start performing Levene’s test in Excel. You’ll learn how to find the absolute differences between a sample group and the group mean. We’ll also explain how to use the Analysis Toolpak add-in to create an ANOVA table.

Follow these steps to perform Levene’s test in Excel:

First, use the AVERAGE function to find the first group’s mean.
Find the remaining group means using the AVERAGE function. In our example, we can use the Fill Handle tool to fill out the remaining cells.
Next, create a new table to place our absolute residual values.
We can find the absolute difference of a value, and the group mean with the ABS function.
Use the Fill Handle tool to find the remaining absolute differences for the first group. Ensure that the group mean is set as an absolute reference.
Use the same steps to find the absolute residuals of the remaining groups.
Next, we’ll use the Analysis Toolpak add-in to create an ANOVA table. Excel has this add-in deactivated by default. We can install the add-in by accessing the File tab.
In the File tab, click on the Options button on the bottom-left corner.
In the Excel Options dialog box, navigate to the Add-ins tab. Select the Go.. button.
Ensure that the Analysis ToolPak option is selected. Click on OK to activate the add-in for your current Excel program.
Head to the Data tab and select the Data Analysis option.
Select the option labeled ‘Anova: Single Factor’ and click on OK.
Select the table with our absolute residuals as the input range. Indicate that we’ll be grouping our data by columns.
You have the option to place the output in a new worksheet or in a specific output range. Click on OK to proceed.
You should now find the ANOVA table for our selected range. The p-value will determine whether there is a significant difference in variance between groups.

These are all the steps needed to perform Levene’s test in Excel.

This step-by-step guide should provide you with all the information you need to perform Levene’s test in Excel.

You may use this method to determine whether the variances of two or more groups are equal. We’ve shown you how to transform your dataset into a table of absolute residuals. We’ve also explained how to use the Analysis Toolpak add-in to generate an ANOVA report using the new table.

This function is just one example of the many Excel functions you can use in your spreadsheets. Our website offers hundreds of other functions and methods to help you get more out of Microsoft Excel.

With so many other Excel functions available, you can find one appropriate for your use case.

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