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Factorial and Fractional Factorial Designs

Approx. 12 hours to complete

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Description

Many experiments in engineering, science and business involve several factors. This course is an introduction to these types of multifactor experiments. The appropriate experimental strategy for these situations is based on the factorial design, a type of experiment where factors are varied together. This course focuses on designing these types of experiments and on using the ANOVA for analyzing the resulting data. These types of experiments often include nuisance factors, and the blocking principle can be used in factorial designs to handle these situations. As the number of factors of interest grows full factorials become too expensive and fractional versions of the factorial design are useful. This course will cover the benefits of fractional factorials, along with methods for constructing and analyzing the data from these experiments.

Knowledge

Conduct a factorial experiment in blocks and construct and analyze a fractional factorial design
Apply the factorial concept to experiments with several factors
Use the analysis of variance for factorial designs
Use the 2^k system of factorial designs

Outline

Unit 1: Introduction to Factorial Design
Instructor Welcome
Course Introduction
Introduction to Factorials
The Battery Life Experiment
Choice of Sample Size
Factorials with More Than Two Factors
Battery Life Example
Tool Life Example
Target Detection Example
Course Description
Course Textbook and Resources
Best Practices in Online Learning (or How to Succeed in This Class)
Project
Unit 1: Introduction
Unit 1: Concept Questions
Exercise 1

Unit 2: The 2^k Factorial Design
Analysis Procedure for a Factorial Design
Reduced Model
How Much Replication is Necessary?
ANOVA Summary - Full Model
The General 2^k Factorial Design
Estimates of the Effects
Other Methods for Analyzing Unpredicated Factorials
Outliers
The 2^k design and design optimality
Addition of Center Points to a 2^k Design
Plasma Etching Example
Filtration Rate Example
Unit 2: Introduction
Unit 2: Concept Questions
Exercise 2

Unit 3: Blocking and Confounding in the 2^k Factorial Design
Blocking a Replicated Design
Confounding in Blocks
Confounding in Blocks, Pt. 2
Filtration Rate with Blocking Example
Unit 3: Introduction
Exercise 3

Unit 4: Two-Level Fractional Factorial Designs
Why do Fractional Factorial Designs Work?
Construction of a One-half Fraction
The General 2^(k-p) Fractional Factorial Design
Alias Structures in Fractional Factorials and Other Designs
Resolution III Designs
Plackett-Burman Designs
Resolution IV and V Designs
Filtration Rate Fractional Factorial Example
Eye Focus Time Example
Unit 4: Introduction
Exercise 4

Summary of User Reviews

Learn about factorial and fractional factorial designs in this comprehensive course offered by Coursera. Students have given positive feedback on the course content, instructor, and interactive exercises. One key aspect that users found particularly good was the clear explanations of complex concepts.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

Clear explanations of complex concepts

Pros from User Reviews

Comprehensive coverage of factorial and fractional factorial designs
Engaging instructor who explains concepts clearly
Interactive exercises that reinforce learning
Excellent course structure and pacing
Useful real-world examples to illustrate concepts

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course challenging and may require additional study time
There is a lot of material to cover in a short timeframe
The course may not be suitable for those without a background in statistics
Limited opportunities for interaction with the instructor or other students
Some users found the course to be too theoretical and lacking in practical applications

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