Lecture 31: Split Plot/Repeated Measures

Split Plot

Split Plot/Repeated Measures

In a split plot design there

are experimental units of
two different sizes.

The term Split Plot usually

refers to an Agricultural
experiment while the term
Repeated Measures is used
by Social Scientists.

Whole plot
Sub plot
1

Example

Treatments

Response: Yield, bushels of

soybeans per acre.
Conditions:

Factorial crossing is used to

make treatments from the 6
combinations of variety of
soy bean and type of
insecticide.

Variety (3 levels)
Insecticide (2 levels)

Experimental Material: fields

3

Block Design?

Treatments in one field

We might consider a block

design where the fields are the
blocks.
Blocks are made by subdividing
each field into 6 plots.
Treatments are assigned, at
random, to plots in each field.
5

V1,I2

V2,I1

V2,I2

V3,I1

V1,I1

V3,I2
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Lecture 31: Split Plot/Repeated Measures

Inconvenience

Real Problem

Farmer will have to load and

empty the planter 6 times for
each field.
Farmer will have to load and
empty the sprayer 6 times for
each field.

If there is any wind, the

insecticide applied to one
plot may drift onto an
adjacent plot, biasing the
experiment.
7

Run Two Experiments

Example Field Layouts

In the spring plant the 3

varieties of soy bean using a
randomized complete block
design with fields as blocks.
Blocks made by subdividing
fields.

V1

V3

V2

V2

V1

V3

V3

V2

V1

V3

V1

V2

Have 8 fields total.

9

Run Two Experiments

10

Example Field Layouts

After the soy beans are up and

growing, apply insecticide 1 to
four of the fields, chosen at
random from the 8, and
Insecticide 2 to the other
fields.

Insecticide 1
V1 V3 V2

Insecticide 2
V2 V1 V3

V3 V2 V1
Insecticide 2

V3 V1 V2
Insecticide 1

Have 8 fields total.

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Lecture 31: Split Plot/Repeated Measures

Factorial Crossing

Two Experiments in One

Notice that each level of

Insecticide appears with each
level of Variety.
The Insecticide*Variety
treatment combinations are
replicated on several plots.

Completely Randomized
Design
Insecticides are applied
using whole fields as
experimental units.
13

Two Experiments in One

Randomized Complete Block
Design.
Varieties are planted using
fields as blocks. All three
varieties are assigned to plots
within each block at random.

14

Two Experiments in One

Because there are two
experiments using two
different sizes (whole fields
and plots in fields) of
experimental units, the
ANOVA needs to reflect this.

15

Completely Randomized
Sources:

16

Error Variation
Error variation comes from
differences in fields treated
(getting the same
Insecticide) the same.

Insecticide, 2 levels, 1 df
Error, 4 fields within each
Insecticide, 3 + 3 = 6 df
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Lecture 31: Split Plot/Repeated Measures

Error Variation

Randomized Complete Block

Variety, 3 levels, 2 df
Variety*Insecticide, 2 df
Error, 12 df

Error comes from the

inconsistency of Variety
effect across different fields.
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Partial ANOVA
Source
Insecticide
Fields[Insecticide]
Variety
Insecticide*Variety
Error
C. Total

df
1
6
2
2
12
23

20

Repeated Measures

F Ratio
MSInsect/MSFields
MSVariety/MSError
MSInsect*Var/MSError

In a repeated measures
design experimental units
are measured several times.

21

Example

22

Exam Aids

Response: Score on a statistics

exam.
Conditions:

What exam aids are used?

Nothing
Formula sheet
Calculator
Both a formula sheet and a
calculator.

Exam Aids (4 levels)

Type of Test (2 levels)

Experimental Material:
students
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Lecture 31: Split Plot/Repeated Measures

Type of Exam

Two Experiments in One

Multiple choice (100 pt)

Problem solving (100 pt)
Each exam measures
competency with the
statistics material.

Completely randomized
design.
Assign exam aids at random to
the 100 students so that 25
students experience each of
the levels.
25

Two Experiments in One

Randomized complete block
design.
Have each student take both
tests. The order is determined
at random for each students.

26

Repeated Measures
Measuring each students
competency on statistics
twice, once with a multiple
choice exam and once with
a problem solving exam.

27

Analysis of Variance

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Analysis of Variance

If we were only looking at the

effects of exam aids in using a
completely randomized
design, there would be two
sources of variation; exam aids
and random error.

Source
Exam Aids
Error
C. Total
29

df
3
96
99
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Lecture 31: Split Plot/Repeated Measures

Random Error

Analysis of Variance

The variation in students treated

the same (using the same exam
aid) goes into the sum of squares
for error.
This variation could result from
different study habits, different
test taking abilities, different
content knowledge, etc.

Source
Exam Aids
Students[Exam Aids]
C. Total

df
3
96
99

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Second Factor

32

Analysis of Variance

The second factor, type of

test, is examined by reusing
students in a randomized
complete block design.
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Error

Source
Exam Aids
Students[Exam Aids]
Type of Test
Aids*Test Interaction
Error
C. Total

df
3
96
1
3
96
199

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Comment
The exam aid levels are really
combinations of factors;

The sums of squares for error

in this part of the design is due
to the interaction between type
of test and the students (df =
1*96), the inconsistency of
test effect across different
students.

Formulas Yes, No
Calculator Yes, No

The exam aids sums of squares can be

broken down into sums of squares for
Formulas, Calculator and a
Formulas*Calculator interaction.
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