Factorial Designs

Outline
1. Introduction to factorial designs
2. Main effects and interactions
3. Types of factorial designs

1. Introduction to factorial designs

in real life variables rarely exist in isolation
to examine these more complex, real-life
situations, researchers often design
research studies that include more than
one independent variable (e.g. caffeine
and alcohol)

1. Introduction to factorial designs

in an experiment, an independent variable is

often called a factor, especially in experiments

that include two or more independent variables
a research design that includes two or more
factors is called a factorial design
this kind of design is often referred to by the
number of its factors, as a two-factor design or
a three-factor design
a research study with only one independent
variable is often called a single-factor design

1. Introduction to factorial designs

each factor is usually denoted by a letter (A, B,

C)
factorial designs use a notation system that
identifies both the number of factors and the
number of values or levels that exist for each
factor
e.g. caffeine (3 levels) and alcohol study (2
levels) would be described as 3 x 2 two factor
design

2. Main effects and interactions

the main differences among the levels of one

factor are called the main effect of that factor

when the research study is represented as a
matrix with one factor defining rows and the
second factor defining the columns, then the
mean differences among the rows define the
main effect for one factor, an the mean
differences among the columns define the main
effect for the second factor

2. Main effects and interactions

an interaction between factors occurs whenever the

mean differences between individual treatment

conditions, or cells, are different from what is predicted
from the overall main effect of the factors
when the effects of one factor depend on the different
levels of a second factor, then there is an interaction
between the factors
when the results of a two-factor study are graphed, the
existence of nonparallel lines (lines that cross or
converge) is an indication of an interaction between the
two factors

Main effects of caffeine and alcohol

no interaction
alcohol and caffeine no interaction

reaction time

300
250
200
no alcohol

150

alcohol

100
50
0
1

2
caffeine

Main effects of caffeine and alcohol

interaction
alcohol and caffeine interaction

reaction time

300
250
200
no alcohol

150

alcohol

100
50
0
1

2
caffeine

3. Types of factorial designs

between-subjects designs
there is a separate group of participants for
each of the treatment conditions
large number of participants e.g. 20
participants in each condition for a 2 x 4
design means 160 participants

within-subjects designs

single group of individuals participates in all of

the separate treatment conditions
only 20 participants for 2 x 4 factorial design

3. Types of factorial designs

mixed-designs (with respect to factors)
between subjects design can apply to one factor and
a within-subjects design is preferable for a second
factor (e.g. mood as between subjects factor and
memory as within subjects factor)
- a factorial study that combines two different research
designs is called a mixed design
- a common example of a mixed design is a factorial
study with one between-subjects factor and one
within-subjects factor

3. Types of factorial designs

Experimental and nonexperimental or

quasi-experimental research strategies

a factorial study that combines two different
research strategies
a common example of a mixed design is a
factorial study with one experimental factor
and one nonexperimental factor (e.g. gender
differences in memory tests)

3. Types of factorial designs

Pretest-posttest control group designs
Quasi-experimental (two factor mixed design)
One factor between subjects treatment type
Second factor within subjects pre-post test
O X O (treatment group)
O O (control group)

Experimental version of the same design

ROXO
RO O
Where R symbolizes random assignment of subjects
into groups

3. Types of factorial designs

Higher-order factorial designs
Complex designs involving three or more
factors
Example of a three factor design examining
two teaching methods (A), boys and girls (B)
and first and second grade classes (C)
This three factor design can be summarized
as 2x2x2
2 (two teaching methods) x 2 (boys and girls)
x 2 (first and second grade)