FRACTIONAL REPLICATION

M.L.Agarwal
Department of Statistics, University of Delhi, Delhi - 110 007.
In a factorial experiment, when the number of treatment combinations is very large, it
will be beyond the resources of the investigator to experiment with all of them. For such
cases, Finney (1945) proposed a method in which only a fraction of treatment
combinations will be experimented with. In fractional factorial, though the size of the
experiment is reduced, information on certain higher order interactions is sacrificed. The
crucial part of the specification of the fractionally replicated design is the suitable choice
of the defining or identity relationship. The nonestimable effects or interactions for the
selected fraction of treatment combinations, when equated with I are called the identity
relation. After selecting a fraction of treatment combinations, one can easily note that any
contrast of the selected treatment combinations represents more than one effect or
interaction and all effects or interactions represented by the same treatment combinations
are called aliases. In aliases, by assuming that other interactions are negligible when
compared with one of them, in which he is interested, the experimenter can estimate it by
the corresponding contrast of the selected treatment combinations.
The reader is requested to observe the resemblance between the methods of constructing
confounded plans and the methods of constructing fractional replicate plans and also note
that both methods can be together employed advantageously in some circumstances.
1/2k Replicate of 2N Factorial Experiments
Let us consider a 23 factorial experiment in three factors n, p, k, each at two levels. The
eight complete treatment combinations will be 1, n, p, np, k, nk, pk, npk. Instead of
experimenting with all eight-treatment combinations, let us consider the four treatment
combinations 1, np, nk, and pk. We observe that these four treatment combinations occur
with the negative sign in the NPK interaction. If [np] denotes the total yield of r plots
receiving the treatment combination np, etc., we note that
(4r)-1
(4r)-1
(4r)-1
(4r)-1

{[1] +[np] +[nk] +[pk]} represents - 1/2 NPK,

{-[1] +[np] +[nk] -[pk]} represents 1/2 (N - PK),
{-[1] +[np] -[nk] +[pk]} represents 1/2 (P - NK),
{-[1] -[np] +[nk] +[pk]} represents 1/2 (K - NP),

where is the general mean. If we assume that the two- and three-factor interactions are
negligible, the above four orthogonal functions of the treatment combinations can be used
to estimate the general mean and the main effects N, P and K, respectively. This state
of affairs will be represented by
I NPK,

(1)

which is known as the identity relation, and

NPK,

PNK,

KNP,

(2)

Fractional Replication

which are called alias sets. We see that the alias sets are obtained from the identity
relation by multiplying both sides with the main-effect symbols and denoting the square
of a symbol by unity. We remark that the experiment could have been conducted with the
treatment combinations n, p, k and npk, and in that case also it is impossible to separate
the mean from the NPK interaction, the N effect from the PK interaction, the P effect
from the NK interaction, and the K effect from the NP interaction. Hence we have
identity relationship and alias sets given in (1) and (2). Thus we note that the treatment
combinations with positive signs in the NPK interaction or the treatment combinations
with negative sign in the NPK interaction have given rise to the same state of affairs.
Conventionally we select the set of treatment combinations including the control one.
In general let us consider the problem of constructing a 1/2k fraction of a 2n factorial
experiment,. Such an experiment will be denoted by 2n-k. Of the total of (2n-1) effects and
interactions in the full factorial experiment, 2k-1 will be inseparable from the mean, and
the remaining 2n-2k will be mutually inseparable in sets of 2k, there being (2n-k-1-1) such
sets. The treatment combinations will be selected to be of the same sign as the control in
the interactions X1, X2, ..., Xk will also be inseparable from the mean, and the identity
relationship will become
I = X1 = X2 = X1X2 = X3 =X1X3 =X2X3 = X1X2X3= etc.

(3)

The alias sets of an effect or interaction Y are the generalized interactions of Y with X1,
X2, X1X2, etc.
As a further illustration, consider a fraction of the factorial experiment (26, 24) obtained
by confounding ABCD, ABEF, and CDEF. The 16 treatment combinations in fractions
are
1, ab, cd, abcd, ef, abef, cdef, abcdef, bce, ace, bde, ade, bcf, acf, bdf, adf.
The defining contrast is
I ABCD ABEF CDEF,
and the alias sets in this case are
ABCDBEFACDEF,
CABDABCEFDEF,
EABCDEABFCDF,
ABCDEFABCDEF,
ADBCBDEFACEF,
AFBCDFBEACDE,
CFABDFABCEDE,
ACFBDFBCEADE.

(4)
BACDAEFBCDEF,
DABCABDEFCEF,
FABDDFABECDE,
ACBDBCEFADEF,
AEBCDEBFACDF,
CEABDEABCFDF,
ACEBDEBCFADF,

Design Resolution: A design is of resolution R if no p-factor effect is aliased with

another effect containing less than R-p factors. We usually employ a Roman numeral
subscript to denote design resolution; thus, the one-half fraction of the 23 design with the
3-1
defining relation I = ABC (or I = -ABC) is a 2 III design.

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Fractional Replication

Designs of resolution III, IV and V are particularly important. The definitions of these
designs and an example of each follows:
1.

2.

3.

Resolution III designs. These are designs, in which no main effects are aliased
with any other main effect, but main effects are aliased with two-factor
interactions and two-factor interactions may be aliased with each other. The 23-1
design considered earlier with treatment combinations n, p, k, npk is of resolution
3-1
III ( 2 III ).
Resolution IV designs. These are designs in which no main effect is aliased with
any other main effect or with any two-factor interactions, but two-factor
interactions are aliased with other A 24-1 design with I = ABCD is of resolution
4 -1
IV ( 2 IV ).
Resolution V designs. These are designs in which no main effect or two-factor
interaction is aliased with any other main effect or two-factor interaction, but twofactor interactions are aliased with three-factor interactions. A 25-1 design with I
5-1
= ABCDE is of resolution V ( 2 V ).

In general, the resolution of a two-level fractional factorial design is equal to the smallest
number of letters in any word in the defining relation. Consequently, we could call the
preceding design types three-letter, four-letter, and five-letter designs, respectively. We
usually like to employ fractional designs that have the highest possible resolution
consistent with the degree of fractionation required. The higher the resolution, the less
restrictive the assumptions that are required regarding which interactions are negligible in
order to obtain a unique interpretation of the data.
Projection of Fractions into Factorials
Any fractional factorial design of resolution R contains complete designs(possibly
replicated factorials) in any subset of R-1 factors. This is an important and useful
concept. For example, if an experimenter has several factors of potential interest but
believes that only R-1 of them have important effects, then a fractional factorial design of
resolution R is the appropriate choice of design. If the experimenter is correct, then the
fractional factorial design of resolution R will project into a full factorial in the R-1
significant factors.
Since the maximum possible resolution of a one-half fraction of the 2k design is R=k,
every 2k-1 design will project into a full factorial in any (k-1) of the original k factors.
Furthermore, a 2k-1 design may be projected into two replicates of a full factorial in any
subset of k-2 factors, four replicates of a full factorial in any subset of k-2 factors, four
replicates of a full factorial in any subset of k-3 factors, and so on.
Analysis of Fractional Factorials
The analysis of fractional factorials is similar to the analysis of the full factorials. The
treatment groups for each main effect or interaction are found by solving appropriate sets

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Fractional Replication

of equations and then the sum of squares is obtained from the observation totals of these
treatment groups by the usual method.
For 2n factorials, the fractionally replicated designs can also be analysed by applying
Yates algorithm. The only difference is that while writing the treatments, levels of k
factors have to be ignored in the case of 1/2k fraction. These k factors are so chosen that
as a result of their suppression no treatment combination of the remaining n-k factors
should have zeros only, or repeat. The other n-k factors are introduced one by one while
writing the treatments, as in full replication. Here, n-k columns will be generated by
following the same method as described in full factorial. An interaction corresponding to
a contrast is also found similarly by considering only the (n-k) factors. The rest of the
interactions which will contain the ignored factors also will form aliases of the above
interactions.
The fractions of 3n factorial can also be analysed on the same analogy. Here, also, while
writing the treatments, factors are suppressed first and then they are written by
introducing the factors one by one as described in full factorial. The operations and the
correspondence of contrasts and interactions are also similar when the non-suppressed
factors alone are considered. It is, however, not possible to write the aliases of such
interaction components. But this does not create any serious problem. The linear and
quadratic contrasts for a suppressed factor, L, come from contrasts involving those with
which L is in alias.
Illustration
An exploratory trial on Cardamom was conducted in Madras state with seven factors
each at two levels in one quarter of a replicate. The design was a confounded one with 16
plots per block. The treatments were all combinations of presence and absence of Zinc,
Copper, Boron, Iron, Manganese, Magnesium and Molybdenum denoted by A, B, C, D,
E, F and G respectively. The plot size was six plants in a row. The doses in lb per acre
were 20, 20, 80, 224, 20, 10 and 100 for Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Magnesium,
Molybdenum, Boron and Iron, respectively. The layout plan and the yield of green pods
in 100 gr. per plot are given below.

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Fractional Replication

Table 1
Block 1
ab
ae
cd
bcde
adf
abdef
bcf
cef
bdg
fg
befg
abcdfg
acdefg
deg
acg
abceg

Block 2
15
4
7
12
13
15
17
5
6
14
9
12
11
5
13
6

3
11
6
4
10
4
9
1
8
1
6
10
5
2
1
5

1
be
abcd
acde
bdf
def
acf
abcef
adg
abdeg
bcg
ceg
aefg
cdfg
bcdefg
abfg

The identity group of interactions for the above 1/4(27) factorial is

I=ABCDE = CDFG = ABEFG.
The interactions confounded for the two blocks is are
BCEF = ADF = BDEG = ACG.
The data have been analysed by using Yates algorithm. For this purpose two factors have
to be suppressed in the available treatment combinations. These two factors should be
such that after suppression no treatment combination is repeated. In the present case E
and G are such two factors. They have, thus, been suppressed. These have been shown in
bracket while writing the treatment combinations in the table of analysis.
The s.s. in the last column of Table 2 corresponds to the treatment combinations of the
non-suppressed factors only as written in the first column. Those three or four factor
interactions which have either a main effect or two factor interaction in its alias group are
shown along with the main effect or interaction in the last column. There are thus 6
interactions none of which is in alias with a main effect or two factor interaction. One of
them is confounded. The remaining five have been pooled together and used as main
effect or two factor interaction. One of them is confounded. The remaining five have
been pooled together and used as error sum of squares. The error mean square has thus
come out as 10.85. When tested against this mean square only the mean square for BG
comes out significant. The average yield in the BG table are the following

b0

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b1

Fractional Replication

g0
g1

6.2
8.5

11.2
5.8

The table indicates that application of Copper or Molybdenum alone proved better while
their combined application depressed the yield.
Table 2
Treat.
Obsn. Col. Col. Col. Col. Col.
S.S.
1
2
3
4
5
68 117
33
7
250
3
1
a(e)
49 133
35
1.12 A
26
6
4
b(e)
-3
65
20
8.00 B
23
16
11
ab
9
68
29
24.50 AB
12
-28
15
c(eg)
9
8
33
1.12 C
13
-6
10
ac(g)
7
-11
32
0.12 AC
7
-2
13
bc(g)
-11
-25
42
8.00 BC
11
-16
6
abc(eg)
-17
34
26
12.50 ABC=DE
18
-20
6
d(eg)
11
8
5
8.00 D
19
-16
5
ad(g)
-17
1
3
50.00 AD
14
46
8
bd(g)
-9
-1
-2
0.12 BD
14
2
6
abd(g)
7
8
-9
0.12 ABD=CE
18
2
1
cd
-17
0
-13
2.00 CD
17
-8
7
acd(e)
1
-11
-12
0.00 ACD=BE
25
0
4
bcd(e)
-15
14
21.12 BCD=AE
13
26
12
-1
abcd
-2
20
55.12 ABCD=E
13
42
6
-19
f(g)
2
19
8.00 F
1
16
14
-19
af(eg)
9
-11
4.50 AF
4
12
5
3
bf(eg)
-1
-6
0.12 BF
3
-2
9
-19
abf(g)
-16
7
1.12 ABF=EG
0
-6
5
59
cf(e)
-2
-5
24.50 CF
3
-28
5
-7
acf
-7
4
8.00 ACF
-5
16
9
9
bcf
1
8
10.12 BCF
-3
18
17
-11
abcf(g)
6
0
10.12 ABCF
-6
-18
1
13
df(e)
-30
3
15.12 DF
-9
22
4
7
adf
13
-3
190.12 ADF(Con)
-4
78
13
-15
bdf
9
-8
8.00 BDF
4
16
10
-5
abdf(e)
-8
-3
18.00 ABDF
-16
24
15
5
cdf(g)
-6
5
15.12 CDF=G
9
-22
2
43
acdf(eg)
5
-20
3.12 ACDF=AG
5
10
11
-17
bcdf(eg)
-25
-4
112.50 BCDF=BG
9
-60
1
11
abcdf(g)
6
2
12.50 ABCDF=EF
11
20
12
31

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