Factorial experiments

Minilik Tsega
• Experiments in which only a single factor
varies while all the others are kept
constant are called single-factor
experiment.
• In such experiments, the treatments
consist solely of the different levels of the
single variable factor.
 Factorial experiment

• It is the study of effects of two or more factors

• In each complete trial or replication of the
experiment all possible combinations of the
levels of the factors are investigated
• If factor A has a levels and factor B has b levels
the each replicate contains all ab treatment
combinations
• When factors are arranged in factorial design,
they are often said to be crossed
• Complete Block Designs: are suited for
experiments with a small number of
treatments and are characterized by
blocks, each of which contains at least one
complete set treatments.

• These designs are applicable when there

is the luxury to apply each of the
treatments in each of the blocks at least
once.
 Factor types
• Study factor
• Controlling or blocking factor
 Factorial Expts (cont.)

V1 V2 Tot(F)

F1 f1v1 f1v2 Tf1

F2 f2v1 f2v2 Tf2

Interaction effect
Tot(V) Tv1 Tv2 T
Main effect
 Presentations of Results
• What to present?

Main effect Interactions

Table of means, SE, SE (differences), CV

• What to present and When?

– Main effect means, if……
– Interaction means, if……
– Both means, if…..

In factorial experiment, if the interaction effect is significant it not worthy to

talk about main effect and the vis-vers
 Main effect
• The effect of a factor is defined to be the
change in the response due to change in
the levels of the factor. Main effect

hh 30 52
F i h
a gi
c hg
t h
o
r l
b o 20 40
w

low high
Factor A
Main effect of B=(30+52)/2-(20+40)/2
=11
Main effect of A= (40+52)/2-(20+30)/2
=21
 Interactions
• In some experiments, we may fined that
the difference in response between the
levels of one factor is not the same at all
levels of the other factor in this case we
say that that the factors are interacting
•
 hh 40 12
F i h
a gi
c hg
t h
o
r l
b o 20 50
w

low high
Factor A
• Effect of A at lower level of B =50-20=30
• Effect of A at higher level of B =12-40=-28
• Here we say that there is interaction
between factor A and B.
• The magnitude of the interaction effect is
the average difference in these two A
effects
• AB=(-28-30)=-28 clearly there is large
interaction in this experiment
 B-
B+ B+
B-

B+
B+
B- B-

LOW - High + LOW - High +

Factor A Factor A
 The Split-plot experiment
• Two plot sizes: One large and the other
small and split under the large plot.
• Practical necessity.
• The sub-plot factor is favored.

Block 1

M1 M2 M3
Sub-plot Main plot
 Example
• Study of properties of 3 cotton varieties
for resistance to wilt. Varieties as subplot
factor and 4 sowing dates as the main plot
factor, with 4 replications.

• The steps in randomization layout are

given below.
 Example (continued)
M M Mai
1. Divide the a
i
a
i
n

experimental n n p
l

area into 4 p
l
p
l
o
t
o o
blocks. t t

Further divide 1

each block 1 1

into 4 main
plots

Rep1 Rep 2 Rep 3 Rep 4

 Example (continued)

2. Randomly assign the main plot

treatments Factor A, (4 dates of
sowing: D1, D2, D3, and D4,) to the
main plots
 Example continued
V1 V3 V2 V2
3. Divide the main plots
in to 3 subplots and
randomly assign the V3 V2 V1 V3

cotton varieties (V1,

V2, V3) to each
subplot. V2 V1 V3 V1

M1 M2 M3 M4

Rep 1
 Example continued
• Note the following
– Number of subplots Vs main plots
– Difference between RCBD and split plot is on
randomization.

Two size plots 2 stage randomization

2 error terms subplot more
precise than
main plot factors
 Example continued
• If experiments are designed as split-plot,
they should be analyzed ASAP, not as
RCBD.

• More than two factors can be applied to

both main and split-plot levels.