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Trade-offs in the design of experiments
1Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA. rhwiley@email.unc.edu
Journal of Comparative Psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983)
|November 26, 2009
Summary
Experimental design involves inherent trade-offs, particularly with blocking and standardization. Careful interpretation of multiple statistical tests and scrutiny of large experiments are crucial for valid scientific findings.
Area of Science:
- Experimental Design
- Statistical Inference
- Scientific Methodology
Background:
- Critique of experimental design by Schank and Koehnle (2009) necessitates clarification.
- The pervasive nature of trade-offs in experimental design is a fundamental consideration.
- Understanding the implications of blocking and standardization is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To supplement and clarify issues regarding experimental design.
- To provide guidance on the interpretation of multiple hypothesis tests.
- To address misunderstandings about the disadvantages of large-scale experiments.
Main Methods:
- Discussion and clarification of established principles in experimental design.
- Analysis of statistical significance criteria in relation to hypothesis testing.
- Examination of potential biases in large experiments post-randomization.
Main Results:
- Trade-offs in experimental design, especially concerning blocking and standardization, are inevitable.
- Statistical significance criteria should be adjusted only when interest lies in any single response out of many.
- Large experiments with small, statistically significant effects require heightened scrutiny due to potential unnoticed biases.
Conclusions:
- Justifications for experimental design trade-offs must be carefully reported.
- Proper interpretation of statistical results enhances the validity of scientific conclusions.
- Large experiments demand rigorous attention to detail and justification, particularly when small effects are observed.
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