WHAT IS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN?

Experimental design includes a plan and actual procedure in laying out an experiment. Experimental design is the
process of carrying out research in an objective and controlled fashion so that precision is maximized and specific
conclusions can be drawn regarding a hypothesis statement. Generally, the purpose is to establish the effect that a
factor or independent variable has on a dependent variable. 

PRINCIPLES OF EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

1. Replication

2. Randomization

3. Local or Error Control

Replication is the application of a treatment more than once in an experiment or the   repetition of the basic
experiment.  In other words, it is a complete run for all the treatments to be tested in the experiment. In all
experiments, some kind of variation is introduced because of the fact that the experimental units such as individuals
or plots of land in agricultural experiments cannot be physically identical. This type of variation can be removed by
using a number of experimental units. We therefore perform the experiment more than once, i.e., we repeat the basic
experiment. An individual repetition is called a replicate. The number, the shape and the size of replicates depend
upon the nature of the experimental material.

Uses of Replication:

1. It is used as a basis for comparison.

2. It is used to measure the experimental error.

3. It increases precisIon of an experiment

Randomization is the assignment of the treatment in a random manner. The random process implies that every
possible allotment of treatments has the same probability. An experimental unit is the smallest division of the
experimental material, and a treatment means an experimental condition whose effect is to be measured and
compared.  Randomization is usually done by drawing numbered cards from a well-shuffled pack of cards, by
drawing numbered balls from a well-shaken container or by using tables of random numbers or usi:ng thr lottery or
fish bowl technique.

Uses of Randomization

1. It eliminates the bias in assigning the treatments.

2. It miinimizes experimental error.

3. It produces random estimates.

Local or Error Technique is the use of techniques or incorporation of all possible means of minimizing or
controlling the experimental error.

Commonly Used Technique of Local or Error Control:

1. Blocking

2. Proper Plot Technique

3. Data Analysis

Blocking is putting experimental units that are as similar as possible together in the same group (generally referred
to as blocks) and assigning all treatments into each block separately and independently , variations among blocks can
be measured and removed from the experimental error.

Proper Plot Technique is absolutely essential for almost all types of experiment thet all other factors aside from
those considered as treatments be maintained uniformly for all experimental units.For example in variety trials where
the treatments consist solely of the test varieties. It is required that all other factors such as soil nutrients, solar
energy , plant population, pest incidence and an almost infinite number of environmental factors are maintained
uniformly.

Data Analysis is the proper choice of data analysis in cases where blocking alone may not be able to achieve
adequate control of experimental error an example is the use of covariance analysis.

Determinants of the Number of Replications:

1. Number of Treatments - as a general rule if there are more treatments used in the experiment less number of
replications may be used. The minimum number of replication is two. 

2. Cost of Experimental Animal - if the experimental animal is very expensive may use minimal number of
replications.

3. Scope of the Experimnet - when the scope of the experiment is large or big more replications are needed.

4. Duration of the Experiment - experiments with long duration will require more number of replications.

5. Inherent Variability Among Experimental Units - If the experimental units are very variable more replications
are needed while homogeneous experimental units can have less number of replications.

6. Experimental Design Used - the experimental design used will identify the number of replications.

7. Type of Experiment -  the type of experiment will determine the number of replications for single factor
experiments uses lless number of relications while factorial experiments have more number of replications.

BASIC TERMS:

1.  Experiment - an experiment is a procedure carried out to support, refute, or validate a hypothesis. Experiments
provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when a particular factor is
manipulated. 

2. Experimental Unit - is the physical entity to which the treatment is assigned at random. It can be   a plant, an
animal, a person or an object that receives the treatment.

Example: If the experiment will be done to determine the effect of antibiotic in treating a respiratory disease of cows,
the cows are the experimental units since the antibiotics will be given to the cows

3. Sampling Unit - is a part of the experimental unit where the treatment effect is measure. It The sampling unit may
also be the sampling unit. 
Example: If the experiment will be done to determine the effect of antibiotic in treating a respiratory disease of cows,
the cows are the also the sampling unit  since the effect of the antibiotics will be measured on the cows.

Example: If a type of vitamins will be given to sows and it has an effect on the size of the litters, the sampling unit is
the litter while the experimental unit is the sow since it is the sow who will receive the treatment but the effect will
be measured on the newborn pigs or litters of the sow.

4. Treatment - is something that researchers administer to experimental units. It can be a procedure, a brand, a
variety, a breed, a technique or anything whose effect is measured and compared 

For example, if the experimental  units were given 5mg, 10mg, 15mg of a medication, the amounts would be
the  treatments.

5. Level - is the intensity setting of a treatment.

In the example above, the levels are the different amounts in mg of the medication which are 5mg, 10mg, 15mg of a
medication a total of three levels.

6. Response Variable - is the characteristic or trait that may vary due to the application of a treatment. It is also
termed as the dependent variable. It is that variable whose variation depends on other variables.

Example: If the experiment will be done to determine the effect of antibiotic in treating a respiratory disease of cows,
the effect of the antibiotic will be the response varaible.

7. Independent Variable - It is a variable that stands alone and isn't changed by the other variables you are trying to
measure. They are those that a researcher can manipulate in an experiment usually it is represented by the treatments.

8. Dependent Variable - They are the responses to the effects of independent variables.and in an experiment they
represent the response variables.