23 Factorial Experiments:

In this case, we have three factors a b & c with two levels. Representing the treatment combinations
by symbols ai, bj, ch (i = 0, 1; j = 0, 1; h = 0, 1) and we get 23 = 2x2x2 = 8 possible treatment combinations
that are (1), a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, abc. The main effects and interaction effects can be represented by the following
relations (the effects are also called contracts i.e. main effect of factor a is called contract A);

1
Main Effect of factor a = A =  a  (1)    ab  b    ac  c    abc  bc  
4

1
Contract A =  a  1 b  1 c  1  (By taking common and simplification)
4

1
Main Effect of factor b = B =  b  (1)    ab  a    bc  c    abc  ac  
4

1
Contract B =  a  1 b  1 c  1 
4

1
Contract C =  a  1 b  1 c  1 
4

Similarly;

1 1
AB =  abc  a  b  c  ab  ac  bc  (1) =  a  1 b  1 c  1
4 4

1 1
AC =  abc  a  b  c  ab  ac  bc  (1) =  a  1 b  1 c  1
4 4

1 1
BC =  abc  a  b  c  ab  ac  bc  (1) =  a  1 b  1 c  1
4 4

1
ABC=  a  1 b  1 c  1 
4

1
M=  a  1 b  1 c  1 
8

Note:

(1), a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, abc the treatment combinations are the sum of the relevant column values.
Sign-Table to 23 Factorial Experiment;

Effects Treatment combinations Divisor

(1) a b c ab ac bc abc
M + + + + + + + + 8
A - + - + - + - + 4
B - - + - + - + + 4
C - - - + - + + + 4
AB + - - + + - - + 4
AC + - + - - + - + 4
BC + + - - - - + + 4
ABC - + + - + - - + 4

2k FACTORIAL EXPERIMENTS

Factorial designs are widely used in experiments involving several factors where it is necessary to
study the joint effect of these factors on a response. These are the special cases of factorial design that are
important because they form the basis of other designs of considerable practical value.

The first special case, among these cases, is that of k factors each had two levels only. These levels
may be quantitative or qualitative. A complete replicate of such design required 2k observations and is called
2k factorial design.

The second special case is that k factors and each have 3 levels and is called 3k factorial design.

Example:

A 22 factorial experiment i.e. with 2 factors (varieties) and 2 levels (manures). The yields given in
the following table; Perform the analysis of variance and test the significance of varieties and manures.

Treatment Combinations
Replicates
v1m1 v1m2 v2m1 v2m2
1 5 7 8 10
2 4 4 7 5
3 6 4 9 12
Solution:

First formulate the hypothesis;

(i) Ho: There is no difference between treatment combinations.

(a) The varieties effect zero

(b) The Manures effect is zero

(c) There is no interaction effect.

Level of significance = α = 0.05

Treatment Combinations Bi. Bi2. Y

j
2
ij

Replicates
v1m1 = (1) v1m2 = m v2m1 = v v2m2 = vm

1 5 7 8 10 30 900 238
2 4 4 7 5 20 400 106
3 6 4 9 12 31 961 277
T.j 15 15 24 27 Sum= 81 2261 621
T. 2j 225 225 576 729 Sum=1755

Now,

TSS =  Y
i j
2
ij  CF = 621 – 546.75 = 74.25

Bi2.
Block SS = i k  CF = (2261/4) – 546.75 = 18.50

T. 2j
Tr.SS =  j r
 CF = 38.25; Error SS = TSS – BSS – Tr.SS = 17.50

To compute the main effects and interaction effect, the contracts are as follows

[V] = [vm] + [v] – [m] – (1) = 27 + 24 – 15 – 15 = 21

[M] = [vm] – [v] + [m] – (1) = 27 – 24 + 15 – 15 = 3

[VM] = [vm] – [v] – [m] + (1) = 3

Hence,

V 
2

SS for varieties = SSV = = 36.75

4r
 M 
2

SS for Manures = SSM = = 0.75

4r

VM 
2

SSMV = = 0.75
4r

These results are summarized in ANOVA-Table

Source of
d.f SS MSE F F0.05(v1,v2)
Variation
Blocks 2 18.50 9.25 --- ---
Treatments 3 38.25 12.75 4.37 4.76
V 1 36.75 36.75 12.9 5.99
M 1 0.75 0.75 0.26 5.99
VM 1 0.75 0.75 0.26 5.99
Error 6 17.50 2.92 --- ---
Total 11 74.25 --- --- ---

Since 4.37 for treatment does not fall in the critical region, so we accept the Ho.