11.

Experimental Research:
Factorial Design
• What are factorial experimental designs, and what advantages do
they have over one-way experiments?
• What is meant by crossing the factors in a factorial design?
• What are main effects, interactions, and simple effects?
• What are some of the possible patterns that interaction can take?
• How are the data from a factorial design presented in the research
reports?
• What is a mixed factorial design?
• What is the purpose of comparing means, and what statistical
techniques are used to do this?
 Factorial Experimental Designs
Factorial Experimental Designs

Experimental designs with more than one independent variable.

The term factor refer to each of manipulated independent variables.

Example. IV. Sex (male, female), 2 Factors

Ethnicity (Black, White, Asian, Latino)
DV. Self-esteem 4 levels

2 levels Black White Asian Ratino

M 20 24 19 20 Cells
F 24 18 20 21 2  4 designs
 The Two-Way Design
Example. Violent cartoons and children’s frustrated state increase
their aggressive behavior.

IV: Violent Cartoons vs. Nonviolent Cartoons

Frustrated State vs. Non Frustrated State
DV: Children’s aggressive behaviors.
Violent Nonviolent

Frustrated M = 2.68 N= 10 M = 3.25 N= 10 Av. M = 2.97

Not
frustrated M = 5.62 N= 10 M = 2.17 N= 10 Av. M = 3.90

Av. M = 4.15 Av. M = 2.71

 Main Effects, Interactions, and Simple Effects

Main Effects The effect of each factors

The effects in which the influence of one factor on the

Interactions
DV is different at different levels of another factors.
Simple Effects The effect of one factor within a level of another factor

Violent Nonviolent

Frustrated M = 2.68 N= 10 M = 3.25 N= 10 Av. M = 2.97

Not
frustrated M = 5.62 N= 10 M = 2.17 N= 10 Av. M = 3.90

Av. M = 4.15 Av. M = 2.71

 ANOVA Summary Table
Source Sum of df Mean F p-value
Squares Square

DV:
Cartoon 23.56 1 23.56 4.56 .04*
Aggressive
Play
Prior State 11.33 1 11.33 2.00 .17

Cartoon by
Prior State 29.45 1 29.45 5.87 .03*

Residual 41.33 36 5.17

Total 94.67 39 59.51
 Chart

Cartoon
Residual
Prior
State
C & PS
 Understanding Interactions
DV DV DV Frustrated
Nonfrustrated

Violent Nonviolent Violent Nonviolent Violent Nonviolent

Patterns with Main Effects Only

 Understanding Interactions
DV DV DV Frustrated
Nonfrustrated

Crossover Interaction

Violent Nonviolent Violent Nonviolent Violent Nonviolent

Patterns with Main Effects & Interaction Only

 Interpretation and Presentation of
Main Effects and Interpretations

2 (cartoon)  2 (prior state) ANOVA was conducted. The

results indicated that there were significant main effect of cartoon,
F (1, 38) = 4.45, p < .05. Children who viewed the violent
cartoon (M = 2.89) were rated as playing more aggressively than
children who had viewed the nonviolent cartoon (M = 1.52). This
main effect, however, should be qualified by the interaction with
prior state, F (1, 36) = 4.42, p < .05. Children who were frustrated
and viewed the violent cartoon (M = 5.55) were rated as playing
more aggressively than children in other conditions (M = 1.11, 1.48,
1.54, respectively).