The Scientific Method

Formulation of an H ypothesis

P lanning an experiment to objectively test the

hypothesis
Careful observation and collection of D ata from
the experiment
I nterpretation of the experimental results

Steps in Experimentation
H

Definition of the problem

Statement of objectives

Selection of treatments
Selection of experimental material
Selection of experimental design
Selection of the unit for observation and the number of replications
Control of the effects of the adjacent units on each other
Consideration of data to be collected
Outlining statistical analysis and summarization of results

D
I

Conducting the experiment

Analyzing data and interpreting results
Preparation of a complete, readable, and correct report

The Well-Planned Experiment

Simplicity
dont attempt to do too much
write out the objectives, listed in order of priority

Degree of precision
appropriate design
sufficient replication

Absence of systematic error

Range of validity of conclusions
well-defined reference population
repeat the experiment in time and space
a factorial set of treatments also increases the range

Calculation of degree of uncertainty

Types of variables
Continuous
can take on any value within a range (height, yield, etc.)
measurements are approximate
often normally distributed

Discrete
only certain values are possible (e.g., counts, scores)
not normally distributed, but means may be

Categorical

qualitative; no natural order

often called classification variables
generally interested in frequencies of individuals in each class
binomial and multinomial distributions are common

Terminology
experiment

planned inquiry

treatment

procedure whose effect will be

measured

factor

class of related treatments

levels

states of a factor

variable

measurable characteristic of a plot

experimental unit to which a treatment is applied

unit (plot)

More Terminology
replications

experimental units that receive

the same treatment

block

group of homogeneous experimental

units

sampling unit part of experimental unit that is

measured
experimental variation among experimental units

error

that are treated alike

Barley Yield Trial

Experiment
Hypothesis
Treatment
Factor
Levels
Variable
Experimental Unit
Replication
Block
Sampling Unit
Error

Hypothesis testing
Decision
Accept H0

Reject H0

H0 is true
1 = 2

Correct

Type I error

HA is true
1 2

Type II error

1-
Power

Reality

Power of the test

Power is greater when

differences among treaments are large
alpha is large
standard errors are small