Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) is a statistical technique used to compare the means of multiple groups across multiple dependent variables simultaneously. It helps researchers determine if there are any statistically significant differences between the groups while considering the interrelationships among the dependent variables. In MANOVA, the independent variable can be categorical, such as different treatment groups, while the dependent variables are continuous measurements. This method is particularly useful in fields like psychology and biology, where researchers often study the effects of various factors on multiple outcomes at once, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the data.