What Really is Experimental Error in Block Designs?

Abstract

A simple derivation of expected mean squares is given for the randomized (complete) block design, showing that “experimental error,” the error term for testing treatments, is comprised of three sources of variability: block by treatment interaction, within block plot-to-plot variability, and within experimental plot sampling variation. The approach could readily be extended to incorporate measurement error as a fourth component of experimental error.

Key Words:

• Experimental error
• Generalized randomized block design
• Generalized randomized block design with sampling
• Randomized block design
• Randomized block design with sampling