types of experimental design

•Three-Group Design•Parallel-Group Design

•Counterbalanced or Latin Square Design

In this design, there are three groups of independent variables.

Illustration 1 (Experimental Research)

Suppose the researcher wishes to conduct a study on the effect of using direct seeding, transplanting, and using stem cuttings in growing of Moringa Oleifera at the municipal grounds of Barotac Viejo. These three methods of culturing Moringa Oleifera are independent variables and the dependent variable is the weight of Moringa Oleifera. Mean and ANOVA, two-factor or F-test: two-factor are the statistical tools used. Mean is used to determine the mean weight of Moringa per method. ANOVA or F-test is used to test the significant difference on the weight of Moringa of the three methods. If significant difference exists, this means the three methods of growing Moringa Oleifera really differ with each other because one method is most effective. If insignificant difference exists, hence, the weight of Moringa Oleifera using the three methods are almost the same.

Sample of Three-Group Design on the Effect of Using Direct Method, Transplanting Method and Using Stem Cuttings in Growing Moringa Oleifera at the Municipal Grounds of Barotac Viejo

Table 5.1.

Illustration 2 (Descriptive Research)

Suppose the researcher wishes to conduct a study on the effectiveness of teaching English using grammar translation method, direct method, and audio-lingual method to first year college students at the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in Region VI (Western Visayas). The three methods of teaching English are independent variables and the scores of students per method are dependent variables. The students are exposed to the three methods of teaching English with one teacher. Mean and ANOVA: two-factor of F-test: two-factor are the statistical tools used. Mean is used to determine the mean score of the students per method. ANOVA: two-factor is used to determine the significant difference of the scores using the three methods of teaching English. If significant difference exists, this means the methods of teaching English really differ with each other because one method is most effective. If insignificant difference exists, thus, the methods of teaching English are almost the same.

Table 4.17. Sample of Three-Group Design on the Effectiveness of Teaching English using Grammar Translation Method, Direct Method, and Audio-Lingual Method to First Year College Students at the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in Region VI

This type of experimental design consists of three or more groups wherein one group is control group with two or more experimental groups. The control group or parallel group serves as basis of the experimental groups which is manipulated or changed, but the experimental groups vary.


Suppose the researcher wishes to conduct a study on the effectiveness of culturing commercial catfish using, soybean meal, meat and bone meal, blood meal, and fish meal as protein supplements. Fish meal is the control group or parallel group and the experimental groups are meat and bone meal, blood meal, and soybean as protein supplements. Mean and ANOVA: two-factor or F-test: two-factor are the statistical tools used to determine the mean weight of catfish and significant difference on the mean weight. If significant difference exists on the mean weight of catfish, this means protein supplements really differ on the weight of catfish because one protein supplement is most effective. If insignificant difference exists, thus the weight of catfish using the four protein supplements are almost the same.

Table 5.2.

(Experimental Group)

Sample Parallel-Group Design on the Effectiveness of Culturing Commercial Catfish Using Soybean Meal, Meat and Bone Meal, Blood Meal and Fish Meal as Protein Supplements


Suppose the researcher wishes to conduct a study on the effectiveness of teaching Chemistry using traditional method and two modern methods in Third Year Secondary students at the Iloilo National High School. Traditional method is the control group and two modern methods of teaching Chemistry are experimental groups. The students are exposed to the three methods of teaching Chemistry under one teacher. Mean and ANOVA: two-factor or F-test: two-factor are the statistical tools used. Mean is used to determine the mean score of students per method. ANOVA or F-test is used to determine the significant difference on the scores of students using the traditional and two modern methods of teaching Chemistry. If significant difference exists, this means the three methods of teaching Chemistry to Third Year Secondary students really differ with each other because one method is most effective. If insignificant difference exists, thus, the methods of teaching Chemistry are almost the same.

Sample Parallel-Group Design on the Effectiveness of Teaching Chemistry Using Traditional and Two Methods to Third Year Secondary Students at the Iloilo National High School

(Experimental Group)

Table 4.20.

This design is also called “rotation design”. It involves an exchange of two or more treatments taken by the subjects during the experiment. The arrangement employed in the design is Latin square in which each variable is a form of square occurring once in each row or column. This is called quasi-experimental design.


Suppose an investigator wishes to determine the effectiveness of growing squash using four different organic fertilizers to four different nurseries. Due to different ecological parameters such as light, humidity, temperature, and oxygen of each nursery, each is required to have one organic fertilizer. The first treatment combination consists of OF₁, N₁, and G₁ where SF stands for Organic Fertilizer; N, Nursery; and S, Squash or scientifically called Cucurbita. The second combination is OF₁, N₂, S₂ and so on. It will be noted that “S₄” or grouper is the diagonal of the square and appears in each position from first supplemental feed to the fourth organic fertilizer. F-test or analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used to determine the significant difference on the effectiveness of growing squash using four different organic fertilizer to four different nurseries.

S₁ S₂ S₃ S₄

S₂ S₃ S₄ S₁

S₃ S₄ S₁ S₂

S₄ S₁ S₂ S₃

Sample of Counterbalanced or Latin Square Design in Growing Squash Using Four Organic Fertilizers to Four Nurseries

N₁ N₂ N₃ N₄

OF₁

OF₂

OF₃

OF₄

Table 4.17.


Suppose the researcher wants to determine the effectiveness of the four technological innovations in teaching Social Sciences taught by four professors to four groups of students. Each professor is required to use each method of reward. The first treatment combination consists of TI₁, P₁, S₁ where TI stands for technological innovation; P, professor; and S, student. The second combination is TI₁, P₂, S₂ and so on. Take note that “S₄” is the diagonal in a square and it appears in each position from the first position to the fourth method. F-test or ANOVA is used to determine the significant difference on the effectiveness of the four technological innovations in teaching Social Sciences taught by four professors.

S₁ S₂ S₃ S₄

S₂ S₃ S₄ S₁

S₃ S₄ S₁ S₂

S₄ S₁ S₂ S₃

Sample of Counterbalanced or Latin Square Design in Teaching Social Sciences Using Four Technological Innovations Taught by Four Professors

P₁ P₂ P₃ P₄

TI₁

TI₂

TI₃

TI₄

Table 5.10.

types of experimental design

Technology