Chapter 10 - Experimental Design Vocabulary

Needed in an experiment in order to be valid, usually because experiments consist of volunteers

• response variable

• experimental units

• random assignment

• subjects

A treatment applied in the default or null group

• control treatment

• alternative treatment

• factor

• response variable

when the levels of one factor are associated with the levels of another factor in such a way the effects cannot be separated

• matching

• blindness

• placebo

• confounding

An observational study where subjects are followed to observe future outcomes, no treatments are imposed

• retrospective study

• prospective study

• experiment

• observational study

A variable whose levels are manipulated by the experimenter

• response variable

• factor

• treatment

• experimental units

The specific values that the experimenter chooses for a factor

• level

• treatment

• subjects

• response variable

Any individual associated with an experiment who is not aware of how subjects have been allocated to treatment groups

• statistically significant

• blocking

• matching

• blinding

Individuals on whom an experiment is performed

• factor

• experimental unit

• treatment

• placebo

Manipulates factor levels to create treatments, randomly assigns subjects to those treatment levels, and compares responses across treatment groups

• observational study

• experiment

• sample survey

• simulation

The process or controlled circumstance applied to randomly assigned experimental units, within different levels of a single factor or a combination of levels of 2 or more factors

• response variable

• placebo effect

• control group

• treatment