Ch 8: A screening experiment in blocks(fixed blocking)

Main ideas:

Groups of runs. Groups are different but not identified as random choices, we have fixed blocking.

Problem of fixed blocking: Can’t use it to predict individual runs from future blocks

OLS is used for fixed blocking

Experiments that consider fixed blocking need way more runs that experiments with random blocks. So
x runs in smallest random block, need 2x runs in smallest fixed size block.

Random block effects estimation more computationally demanding,

Create design where blocks are nearly orthogonal with factor effects, If can’t block orthogonally show
how much variance increases.

Q what is the case? Iimprove shelf life of photosensitive vitamin supplement by adding fatty molecule to
it. Day to day variation exists in expt where apparatus that measures decay due to light is recalibrated
each day. Each day is a block. 8 days of experiment so 8 blocks.

8 block effects, 6 main effects, 15 2-factor interactions=29

Used 32 runs with 4 runs in each block

Q.What is the problem? Can’t estimate 2-factor interactions independent of block effects. They are
completely confounded with block effects.

If you increase runs to 64, block effects double as well but still can’t estimate them

Q.What are the good points of this model? 1) The VIF for main effects and unconfounded 2-factor
interactions=1.So they can be estimated with maximum precision or minimum variance. Block effects
also have VIF=1.

Q.What could be potential solution? Use random blocks. Since each factor has 2 levels,

-1 and 1 levels, randomly assign a level of factor to one of 32 runs in expt.

Left table: two VIFs as random design is not good. Factor settings are non-orthogonal and so VIF due to
non-orthogonality ranges from 1.72 to 6.34. Also random blocks are not orthogonally blocked and so VIF
due to random blocks go from 3.18 to 23.45. This is not good as VIF greater than 5 signifies serious
multicollinearity. But model can estimate all 2-factor interactions unlike Xu model which has VIF of 1 for
all non-confounded covariates.

Right table:two VIFs from D-optimal design for random blocks. VIF of all factors is 1. Total VIF is VIF due
to blocking. Five of blocking factors has VIF of 1 and so can be estimated with maximal precision. None
of VIF is larger than 2.57. So can estimate all 2-factr interactions at the price of slightly imprecise
estimates.