I'm planning an experiment on the removal efficiency by a plant with different types of heavy metals and initial concentration. I want to see if there is a significant difference between the removal efficiency (%) and types of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni). I assume the removal efficiency is the dependent variable while type of heavy metals and initial concentrations are independent. But I believe the initial concentration will definitely have an impact on the removal efficiency so, is ANCOVA suitable for this test? or two-way ANOVA? or are there better ways to statistically analyze this?
The two way ANOVA would be much better if you arr not sure of things, but you said you believe initial concentration covaries with removal efficiency. Are you guessing? Believe is a nebulous concept in an experimental research. You only have to use ANCOVA if it is obvious to you that both d IV and the DV co-vary. If things still look unclear, you may first make use of t-test for the difference between plants of these two different types( heavy metals and initial concentration). Then determine which to use from Two way and ANCOVA.
Is any of your dependent variable a categorical variable? It looks like that both your IV (heavy metal and initial concentration) are continuous variables and so is your DV (Removal Efficiency). I may be wrong though. I am assuming that you are measuring removal efficiency in %age. Under this assumption I would suggest Regression Analysis. Alternatively if your DV is measured in binary (efficient / not efficient) I would suggest logistic or discriminant analysis.
Rohit Vishal Kumar may I know why types of heavy metal is considered as continuous instead of categorical? Sorry, I should be more clear as in I'm planning to do removal efficiency on different heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni) at different levels (1 mg/L, 5 mg/L) respectively.
Busari Yusuf my assumption on initial concentration covaries with removal efficiency is based on other studies how increasing heavy metal concentration reduces the removal efficiency due to the incurred toxicity effect for the metals itself.
Liu Ying I had considered to do correlation between initial concentrations and removal efficiency, but I'm not sure if that would work with types of heavy metal?
Thanks for the suggestions.
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