Contrast Types

Deviation. Compares the mean of each level (except a reference category) to the mean of all of the levels (grand mean). The levels of the factor can be in any order.

Simple. Compares the mean of each level to the mean of a specified level. This type of contrast is useful when there is a control group. You can choose the first or last category as the reference.

Difference. Compares the mean of each level (except the first) to the mean of previous levels. (Sometimes called reverse Helmert contrasts.)

Helmert. Compares the mean of each level of the factor (except the last) to the mean of subsequent levels.

Repeated. Compares the mean of each level (except the last) to the mean of the subsequent level.

Polynomial. Compares the linear effect, quadratic effect, cubic effect, and so on. The first degree of freedom contains the linear effect across all categories; the second degree of freedom, the quadratic effect; and so on. These contrasts are often used to estimate polynomial trends.