Experimental sciences and industrial research depend on data to draw inferences and make recommendations. Data are obtained in essentially two ways: from observational studies or from experimental; i.e., interventional, studies. The distinction between these two types of studies is important, because only experimental studies can lead to causal inferences. In order to ensure that proper inferences can be drawn, any such experiment has to be planned carefully subjectto certain principles of design of experiments.
Steps of Designed Investigations
Any investigation begins with the formulation of a question or research hypothesis in the context of a particular subject matter area, such as agriculture, medicine, industry, etc. For a given situation the researcher has to identify and characterize the experimental units to be used in the experiment. The experimental units are then subjected to different treatments, which are the objective of the study and about which statistical and...
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References and Further Reading
Cox DR (1984) Interaction (with discussion). Int Stat Rev 52:1–32
Fisher RA (1926) The arrangement of field experiments. J Min Agr Engl 33:503–513
Fisher RA (1935) The design of experiments. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh
Hinkelmann K, Kempthorne O (2008) Design and analysis of experiments, vol 1: introduction to experimental design, 2nd edn. Wiley, Hoboken
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Hinkelmann, K. (2011). Experimental Design: An Introduction. In: Lovric, M. (eds) International Encyclopedia of Statistical Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04898-2_311
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