EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Course Description

This is an advanced course in designing experiments. Well-designed experiments allow us to obtain reliable and valid results with fewer resources comparing to poorly-designed experiments. In this course, both experimental design and statistical analysis issues are discussed. The course provides knowledge about experimental designs and analysis of data from experiments. Analysis of variance, randomized block designs, Latin-square designs, linear mixed models, split-plot designs, response surface methodology, mixture models and fractional 2k experiments are studied. Applications of experimental planning and analysis of variance play a prominent part. The course content is valuable when planning and carrying through experiments. Computer literacy is essential for this course, students are expected to utilize statistical software SAS, JMP for computational purposes.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Evaluation Tools (Active Term)

No evaluation items have been defined.

Course outcomes

1. 01 Describe some of the factors affecting reproducibility and external validity.
2. 02 List the different types of formal experimental designs (e.g. completely randomised, randomised block, repeated measures, Latin square and factorial experimental designs
3. 03 Explain the concept of variability, its causes and methods of reducing it
4. 04 Describe possible causes of bias and ways of alleviating it
5. 05 Identify the experimental unit and recognise issues of non-independence (pseudo-replication).
6. 06 Describe the six factors affecting significance, including the meaning of statistical power and “p-values”.
7. 07 Explain formal ways of determining sample size
8. 08 Explain the fundamental principles behind the output of an ANOVA, including “blocking” and “interactions

Course Syllabus

Reference Books & Course Materials

1. 01 A First Course in Design and Analysis of Experiments; Gary W. Oehlert University of Minnesota;ISBN 0-7167-3510-5
2. 02 Statistical Analysis of Agricultural Experiments Part - I : Single Factor Experiments;V K Gupta Rajender Parsad Lal Mohan Bhar Baidya Nath Mandal;M/s Royal Offset Printers, A-89/1, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-I, New Delhi-110028
3. 03 STATISTICAL PROCEDURES FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH,KWANCHAI A. GOMEZ and ARTURO A. GOMEZ
4. 04 Design and Analysis of Experiments;DOUGLAS C. MONTGOMERY Arizona State University, ISBN 978-1118-14692-7 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Learning Outcomes

1. L01 Describe some of the factors affecting reproducibility and external validity. SOLO 3
2. L02 List the different types of formal experimental designs (e.g. completely randomised, randomised block, repeated measures, Latin square and factorial experimental designs SOLO 3
3. L03 Explain the concept of variability, its causes and methods of reducing it SOLO 3
4. L04 Describe possible causes of bias and ways of alleviating it SOLO 3
5. L05 Describe the six factors affecting significance, including the meaning of statistical power and “p-values”. SOLO 3
6. L06 Explain formal ways of determining sample size SOLO 2
7. L07 Explain the fundamental principles behind the output of an ANOVA, including “blocking” and “interactions SOLO 3

Program Outcomes

1. P01 Becoming aware of sufficient theoretical knowledge in basic engineering and agricultural science
2. P02 Having sufficient theoretical knowledge in basic agricultural production especially in pomology, viticulture, olericulture, floriculture and agronomy, and their breeding
3. P03 Being well equiped with practical experiences in agriculture
4. P04 Finding the source of environmental, biotic, abiotic, technical and economical problems in agricultural crops which reduce yield and quality, and create solutions to related problems
5. P05 Defining, classifying and naming cultivated crop plants and knowing how to manage them
6. P06 Breeding of horticultural and field crops, developing new cultivars and producing propagation materials of new developed varieties
7. P07 Applying up-to-date methods and techniques for preserving genetic resources and environment for sustainable use in agricultural commodities
8. P08 Evaluating, asseying and analyzing the changes in cultivation of horticultural and agronomic crops in respect to irrigation, fertilization, defining pests and diseases and after postharvest handling
9. P09 Establishing and managing orchards, vineyards and field crop productions and greenhouse operations
10. P10 Obtaining data in horticulture and field crops along with researching, considering, recording, consulting and expert abilities, project writing and applying
11. P11 Identifying different roles in enchancing individual abilities and skills beside taking responsibilities, participations in team works under any given conditions
12. P12 Easily accessing to appropriate information and thinking analytically in their interested area and subjects. They can do accurate timing and planning in agricultural productions in year round. They think analytically, prepare questionaries, have an exploratory and creative vision and use the obtained knowledge for the benefit of farmers and societies
13. P13 Having ability to transfer information and also able to easily communicate with the people in the field at different levels. They have self - confidence and self- improvement skills as well

Po-Lo Matrix