Unit 4 — Blocking and factorial designs

Wednesday 23 September, 12:30–16:00

Using structure in experiments to improve comparisons

This class introduces blocking and factorial treatment structures as ways to address known variation and answer more than one experimental question efficiently.

Before class

There is nothing to prepare for this class

In class

Students will construct and critique physical layouts for blocked and factorial experiments.

Open the blocking and factorial design slides

The opening slides review experimental units and confounding, introduce randomised block and factorial designs, and prepare the common notation used in the physical design-layout activity.

After class

Watch the video below for a recap on today’s activity and concepts and a look forward to the next class on data simulation.

Read sections 8.1–8.3 and 9.1–9.2 in the course text book.