Factorial Experiment Advantages and Disadvantages

The Factorial Experiment advantages and disadvantages over One-Factor-at-a-time Experiment.

Factorial Experiment Advantages

  • Required Less Number of Observations
    Let $A$ and $B$ be two factors. The information on a factor can be obtained by varying that factor and keeping the other factor fixed.
Factorial Experiment Advantages


Effect of changing factor $A = A_2 B_1 – A_1B_1$

Effect of changing factor $B = A_1B_2 – A _1 B_1$

Three treatment combinations are used for two effects for error estimation we need two replicates so six observations are needed.

In the case of factorial experiments, one more combination $A_2B_2$ is utilized and we get:

Two estimates of $A$ are: $=A_2B_1 – A_1B_1 \qquad \text{ and } \qquad =A_2B_2 – A_1B_2$

Two estimates of $B$ are: $=A_1B_2 – A_1B_1 \qquad \text{ and } \qquad =A_2B_2 – A_2B_1$
Thus, by using four observations we can get the estimates of the same precision under a factorial experiment.

  • More Relative Efficiency
    In the case of two factors the relative efficiency of factorial design to one-factor-at-a-time experimental design is $\frac{6}{4}=1.5$
    This relative efficiency increases with the increase of the number of factors.
  • Necessary When Interaction is Present
    When using a one-factor-at-a-time design and the response of $A_1B_2$ and $A_2B_1$ is better than $A_1B_1$, an experimenter logically concludes that the response of $A_2B_2$ would be even better than $A_1B_1$. Whereas, $A_2B_2$ is available in factorial design.
  • Versatility
    Factorial designs are more versatile in computing effects. These designs provide a chance to estimate the effect of a factor at several levels of the other factor.

Factorial Experiment Advantages in simple words

The factorial Experiment Advantages without any statistical formula or symbol are:

  • A factorial experiment is usually economical.
  • All the experimental units are used in computing the main effects and interactions.
  • The use of all treatment combinations makes the experiment more efficient and comprehensive.
  • The interaction effects are easily estimated and tested through the usual analysis of variance.
  • The experiment yields unbiased estimates of effects, which are of wider applicability.

Factorial Experiments Disadvantages

  • A factorial experiment requires an excessive amount of experimentation when there are several factors at several levels. For example, for 8 factors, each factor at 2 levels, there will be 256 combinations. Similarly, for 7 factors each at 3 levels, there will be 2187 combinations.
  • A large number of combinations when used decrease the efficiency of the experiment. The experiment may be reduced to a manageable size by confounding some effects considered of little practical consequence.
  • The experiment setup and the resulting statistical analysis are more complex.

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Introduction to SPSS Statistics Software

SPSS is a statistical software package that is used to analyze the data (either in quantitative or qualitative form.) and it also helps to interpret the findings. SPSS stands for Statistical Packages for Social Science.

Introduction to SPSS Statistics

In 2009, SPSS was acquired by IBM. Now, the versions of SPSS are being named “IBM SPSS Statistics”, version 27.

Introduction to SPSS Statistics

SPSS software is used by insurance, banking, telecom, retail, consumer package Goods, market research, health research, survey companies, government (election, population, plan), education system and students researchers, finance, etc. to analyze data. SPSS is capable of analyzing a large amount of data and creating tables and graphs.

SPSS software is used for statistical tests because sometimes it is hard to deal with a large amount of data and perform different mathematical and statistical equations by hand. So, it is helpful for us, it also helps us to interpret the results, check normality, testing of hypotheses, computation of different averages, plot simple to complex graphs, and so on. SPSS offers a wide range of statistical methods. Some examples are:

1) Helps to define and show missing values in the data

Introduction to SPSS Statistics Software

2) Compute Descriptive Statistics such as Frequency Distribution

Analyze > Descriptive statistics > Frequency > statistics

Introduction to SPSS Statistics Software

On entered data, and for selected variables, one may get appropriate and required measures such as mean, sum, mode, percentiles, quartiles, variance, range, and other measures of dispersion, skewness, kurtosis, etc.

Statistical Techniques in SPSS

Descriptive Statistics

Different Statistics can be performed such as Cross Tabulation, Frequency, Descriptive, Explore, and Descriptive Ratio Statistics. All these options contain relevant statistical measures such as measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, measures of position, measures for identification of shape of distribution, etc.

Inferential Statistics

Inferential statistics from basic to advanced can also be performed in SPSS Software.

Estimation: Confidence Interval (lower and upper limits) and point estimation (single value).

Hypothesis Testing:

Differences Between Groups: Independent Sample t-test, Paired Sample t-test, One-Way ANOVA, Two-Way ANOVA, Chi-Squared Test for Homogeneity, etc.

Correlation Association: Pearson’s Correlation, Spearman Correlation, Chi-Squared Test of Association, Fisher Exact Test of Independence, Odd Ratio, Relative Risk.

Regression Model and Prediction: Linear Regression models, such as Simple and Multiple Regression, Step-Wise Regression, Logistic Regression, Poisson Regression, etc.

Complex Sample and Testing: Compute Statistics and Standard Error by Complex Sample Design, Visualizes and Explores Complex Categorization, Imputes Missing Values through Statistical Algorithms.

Graphs and Data Visualizations: Line, Chart, Histogram, Bar Chart, Pie Chart, Scatter Plot, Box Plot, Area Chart, Q-Q Plot, Simple 3D Bar Chart, Population Pyramid, Frequency Polygon.

So we say that the SPSS software plays a significant role in the process of analyzing and interpreting the data with the help of statistical features and methods.

For different SPSS Software Tutorials, see the following links:

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Factorial Experiment

In factorial experiments, the effect of two or more factors, each at two or more discrete possible levels are simultaneously investigated for all possible combinations using some suitable basic experimental design.

The experiment allows us to estimate the effect of each factor and the interaction effect of factors on the response.

A factorial design was initially used in the 19th century at Rothamsted Experimental Station (one of the oldest research stations in the UK). Ronal Fisher and Frank Yates are the pioneers of factorial design.

Experiments are often planned to investigate the effects of (say), different rates of fertilizers, different dates of planting, different categories of education, different intensities of a stimulus, etc.

The independent variables such as fertilizers, planting, education, and stimulus, etc., are called factors. In contrast, the values such as rates, dates, categories, or intensities at which a factor is held fixed, are known as levels. In the figure below, the “Amount of Seeding” is a factor variable, while 60kg, 50kg, and 80kg are levels of the factor “Amount of Seeding”. There are three levels of this factor variable.

Factorial Experiment

Types of Factorial Experiments

There are two types of factorial experiments

Full Factorial Experiment

The experimental units of such an experiment take on all possible combinations of all levels across all the factors. Therefore, a full factorial design is also called a fully crossed design.

Fractional Factorial Experiment

If the full factorial design includes too many combinations (runs) to be logically feasible, a fractional factorial may be used. The fractional factorial design may include half, one-third, etc. runs of a full factorial experiment.

In factorial experiments, we try to perform one rather than two, three, or more single-factor experiments. The single experiment involves a factorial set of treatments, that is, the treatments are all possible combinations of various levels of different factors.

The effect of a factor is defined to be the change in response produced by a change in the level of factors. This is called the main effect.

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MCQs MS Excel 2

The post is about MCQs MS Excel which serves as a valuable resource for enhancing skills and preparing for exams such as MS-CIT, entrance exams, and university assessments. This quiz encompasses both fundamental and advanced aspects of MS Excel to assist professionals and students alike. Let us start with MCQs MS Excel.

Online MCQs MS Excel with answers

1. A data analyst locks the rows and columns in their spreadsheet by wrapping their function’s data array in dollar signs ($). Why would they do this?

 
 
 
 

2. What is an Excel feature that displays only the data in column (s) according to specified criteria?

 
 
 
 

3. A function is created using data values from a specified array. It works correctly only some of the time. You verify that the function was used correctly and you ask a colleague for their input. They ask if you locked the data array. What does this mean?

 
 
 
 

4. When using VLOOKUP, there are some common limitations that data analysts should be aware of. One of these limitations is that VLOOKUP can only return a value from the data to the left of the matched value.

 
 

5. Which symbol is used to specify the fixed columns or rows in the formula?

 
 
 
 

6. The VALUE function converts a numeric value into a text string in a spreadsheet.

 
 

7. ____ type of chart is good for a single series of data.

 
 
 
 

8. A data analyst creates an absolute reference around a function array. What is the purpose of the absolute reference?

 
 
 
 

9. Which option allows you to display all numbers that are less than 0 (negative numbers) in red color in MS Excel?

 
 
 
 

10. ____ happens when you select a cell in MS Excel and type “=B25”

 
 
 
 

11. A data analyst uses the SUM function to add together numbers from a spreadsheet. After getting a zero result, they realize the numbers are text. What function can they use to convert the text to a numeric value?

 
 
 
 

12. A cell is defined as

 
 
 
 

13. MS Excel function VLOOKUP can have problems when used on data values that have leading and trailing spaces. What function can be used to eliminate these spaces?

 
 
 
 

14. ____ is not a function in Excel.

 
 
 
 

15. The interface provided by a matrix of rows and columns for manipulation with numeric data is called.

 
 
 
 

16. When writing a function, a data analyst wraps a table array in dollar signs. This is an _____, which is used to lock the array so rows and columns don’t change if the function is copied.

 
 
 
 

17. _________ is the correct syntax of the IF() Function.

 
 
 
 

18. If cells A1 and A2 are empty, what will be the value of the following Excel Formula? =A1 * A2

 
 
 
 

19. What happens when you click on CTRL + X after selecting some cells in Excel?

 
 
 
 

20. _____ Excel function returns TRUE or FALSE based on two or more conditions

 
 
 
 


Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet software that is an integral part of the MS Office software Package. A software that is capable of performing calculations from daily life to advanced level. One can perform calculations from basic mathematics to advanced including statistical and financial computations.

Online MCQs MS Excel

Schools, colleges, Universities, and Examination and Testing conducting authorities such as FPSC, NTS, KPPSC, PPSC SPSC, and others, are adding computer MCQs in their test patron to check CIT and computer-related knowledge of the applicants. MCQs MS Excel covers basic topics of Microsoft MS Excel, it especially focuses on MS Excel for statistical computations.

MCQs MS Excel

  • MS Excel function VLOOKUP can have problems when used on data values that have leading and trailing spaces. What function can be used to eliminate these spaces?
  • A function is created using data values from a specified array. It works correctly only some of the time. You verify that the function was used correctly and you ask a colleague for their input. They ask if you locked the data array. What does this mean?
  • A data analyst uses the SUM function to add together numbers from a spreadsheet. After getting a zero result, they realize the numbers are text. What function can they use to convert the text to a numeric value?
  • When using VLOOKUP, there are some common limitations that data analysts should be aware of. One of these limitations is that VLOOKUP can only return a value from the data to the left of the matched value.
  • A data analyst locks the rows and columns in their spreadsheet by wrapping their function’s data array in dollar signs ($). Why would they do this?
  • When writing a function, a data analyst wraps a table array in dollar signs. This is an __________, which is used to lock the array so rows and columns don’t change if the function is copied.
  • The VALUE function converts a numeric value into a text string in a spreadsheet.
  • A data analyst creates an absolute reference around a function array. What is the purpose of the absolute reference?
  • The interface provided by a matrix of rows and columns for manipulation with numeric data is called.
  • A cell is defined as
  • __________ is the correct syntax of the IF() Function.
  • __________ type of chart is good for a single series of data.
  • What is an Excel feature that displays only the data in column (s) according to specified criteria?
  • __________ is not a function in Excel.
  • Excel function returns TRUE or FALSE based on two or more conditions
  • What happens when you click on CTRL + X after selecting some cells in Excel?
  • __________ happens when you select a cell in MS Excel and type “=B25”
  • Which symbol is used to specify the fixed columns or rows in the formula?
  • Which option allows you to display all numbers that are less than 0 (negative numbers) in red color in MS Excel?
  • If cells A1 and A2 are empty, what will be the value of the following Excel Formula? =A1 * A2

Note that most of the questions in the quiz apply to almost all versions of MS Excel. The questions included in the MCQs MS Excel Quizzes are asked as part of the computer operation general knowledge section of the basic computer awareness test.

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