Experimental Design amp; Analysis.ppt

Experimental Design Analysis Random and Fixed Factors; Fractional Factorials April 10, 2007 Outline Fixed and random factors Fixed factor model Random factor model Mixed factor model Examples SAS Fractional factorial designs Fixed Factors Most ANOVA designs are fixed effects models, meaning that data are collected on all relevant categories of the independent variables Relevance of levels are dictated by some theoretical underpinning E.g. comparing dosages of a drug (5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg) are of theoretical interest, perhaps representing low, medium, high levels Comparing sexes with respect to some response variable, the factor sex is fully represented with 2 levels Random Factors In random effects models, in contrast, data are collected only for a sample of categories For instance, a researcher may study the effect of item order in a questionnaire. Six items could be ordered 720 ways. However, the researcher may limit herself to the study of a sample of six of these 720 ways The random effect model in this case would test the null hypothesis that the effects of ordering = 0 Studies examining whether facial symmetry is important in mate selection may include a variety of symmetric faces Within-subjects designs include a random effect Fixed and Random Factors Random effects are factors which meet 2 criteria: Replaceability: The levels (categories) of the factor (independent variable) are randomly or arbitrarily selected, and could be replaced by other, equally acceptable levels. Generalization: The researcher wishes to generalize findings beyond the particular, randomly or arbitrarily selected levels in the study. Mixed Effects Model Treatment by replication design is a common mixed effects model A fixed factor, such as male and female faces A random factor, or replication factor, representing variety of bilateral symmetry, such as distance of facial features Fixed and Random Factors Effects shown in the ANOVA table for a random factor design are interpreted a bit