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Experimental Design Basics

Douglas C. Montgomery

This is a basic course in designing experiments and analyzing the resulting data. The course objective is to learn how to plan, design and conduct experiments efficiently and effectively, and analyze the resulting data to obtain objective conclusions. Both design and statistical analysis issues are discussed. Opportunities to use the principles taught in the course arise in all aspects of today’s industrial and business environment. Applications from various fields will be illustrated throughout the course. Computer software packages (JMP, Design-Expert, Minitab) will be used to implement the methods presented and will be illustrated extensively.

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This is a basic course in designing experiments and analyzing the resulting data. The course objective is to learn how to plan, design and conduct experiments efficiently and effectively, and analyze the resulting data to obtain objective conclusions. Both design and statistical analysis issues are discussed. Opportunities to use the principles taught in the course arise in all aspects of today’s industrial and business environment. Applications from various fields will be illustrated throughout the course. Computer software packages (JMP, Design-Expert, Minitab) will be used to implement the methods presented and will be illustrated extensively.

All experiments are designed experiments; some of them are poorly designed, and others are well-designed. Well-designed experiments allow you to obtain reliable, valid results faster, easier, and with fewer resources than with poorly-designed experiments. You will learn how to plan, conduct and analyze experiments efficiently in this course.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Unit 1: Getting Started and Introduction to Design and Analysis of Experiments
Unit 2: Simple Comparative Experiments
Unit 3: Experiments with a Single Factor - The Analysis of Variance
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Unit 4: Randomized Blocks, Latin Squares, and Related Designs
Unit 5: Project

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Introduces foundational elements of designing and analyzing experiments, a common task in various work environments
Taught by Douglas C. Montgomery, a respected expert in the field
Emphasizes the practical aspects of experimental design, focusing on efficient and effective approaches
Utilizes industry-standard software packages for hands-on implementation of design and analysis methods
Provides a solid foundation for beginners looking to build a career in research or data-driven industries
May require students to have access to specific software or statistical packages for assignments and projects

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Save Experimental Design Basics to your list so you can find it easily later:
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Reviews summary

Experimental design simplified

Learners say that Experimental Design Basics is a largely positive course for beginners. Professor Montgomery is highly rated, and students have found his lectures to be engaging and easy to understand. The course emphasizes the practical applications of experimental design, with a focus on industry use cases. JMP trials are included for hands-on practice, although some learners recommend supplementing with Python or R for a more widely accessible option.
Professor Montgomery is highly praised for his teaching style and expertise.
"Professor Montgomery is a master at his craft."
"I have used Dr. Montgomery's book off and on since the early 1990s! It is an enjoyment to watch his lectures."
Emphasizes real-world applications and industry use cases.
"Excellent course, very practical and applicable"
"The course and the Prof. helps me to enter the DOE field."
"provides invaluable learnings on understanding the origin of the variability in your data"
Introduces and explains concepts in a clear and concise manner.
"Excellent"
"Very clear course"
"very easy to understand"
Some learners found the exercises to be challenging, especially those involving statistical concepts.
"The exercise questions were rather difficult"
"There are a few errors in the answers to the weekly quizzes, which makes you feel as though you did not learn the material correctly."
Relies heavily on JMP software, which may not be accessible to all learners.
"The only recommendation that I have is that a how to in Python or R video is added to the lecture series."
"I am not a fan of the course's reliance on JMP."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Experimental Design Basics with these activities:
Review your notes from previous statistics courses
This course builds on concepts from previous statistics courses. Reviewing your notes can help you refresh your knowledge and better prepare you for this course.
Browse courses on Statistical Analysis
Show steps
  • Find your notes from previous statistics courses.
  • Review your notes.
Read a book on the design of experiments
This course covers the design and analysis of experiments in detail, and reading a book on the topic can help you solidify your understanding.
View Manual Engineering Statistics, 5e Student... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Find a book on the design of experiments.
  • Read the book.
Watch tutorials on statistical analysis software
This course uses statistical analysis software to analyze the results of experiments. Watching tutorials on the software can help you become more proficient in using it.
Browse courses on Statistical Analysis
Show steps
  • Find tutorials on statistical analysis software.
  • Watch the tutorials.
  • Practice using the software.
Six other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all nine activities
Volunteer at a research lab
Volunteering at a research lab can give you hands-on experience with experimentation and data analysis.
Browse courses on Experimentation
Show steps
  • Find a research lab to volunteer at.
  • Apply to volunteer.
  • Volunteer at the research lab.
Create a presentation on the design of experiments
This course covers the design of experiments in detail, and creating a presentation on the topic can help you solidify your understanding and improve your presentation skills.
Browse courses on Experimentation
Show steps
  • Choose a topic for your presentation.
  • Research the topic.
  • Create an outline for your presentation.
  • Develop the content for your presentation.
  • Practice your presentation.
Discuss the principles of experimentation with classmates
Discussing the principles of experimentation with classmates can help you solidify your understanding and learn from others' perspectives.
Browse courses on Experimentation
Show steps
  • Find a group of classmates to discuss the principles of experimentation with.
  • Meet with your group to discuss the principles of experimentation.
Attend a workshop on design of experiments
Attending a workshop on design of experiments can help you learn from experts and get hands-on experience.
Browse courses on Experimentation
Show steps
  • Find a workshop on design of experiments to attend.
  • Attend the workshop.
Run multiple experiments with different variables
Experimentation is a key component of this course, and completing this activity can help solidify your understanding of the design and analysis of experiments.
Browse courses on Experimentation
Show steps
  • Choose a variable to test.
  • Design an experiment to test the variable.
  • Conduct the experiment.
  • Analyze the results of the experiment.
  • Draw conclusions from the results of the experiment.
Participate in a design of experiments competition
Participating in a design of experiments competition can help you put your skills to the test and learn from others.
Browse courses on Experimentation
Show steps
  • Find a design of experiments competition to participate in.
  • Develop a design of experiments project.
  • Submit your project to the competition.

Career center

Learners who complete Experimental Design Basics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Data Analyst
Data analysts plan, design, and conduct experiments to collect and analyze data. They then use this data to solve problems and make decisions. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for data analysts.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst
Statistician
Statisticians plan, design, and conduct experiments to collect and analyze data. They then use this data to solve problems and make decisions. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for statisticians.
See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician
Market Researcher
Market researchers plan, design, and conduct experiments to collect and analyze data about consumer behavior. They then use this data to help businesses make decisions about marketing products and services. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for market researchers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher
Business Analyst
Business analysts plan, design, and conduct experiments to collect and analyze data about business processes. They then use this data to help businesses make decisions about how to improve operations. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for business analysts.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst
Product Manager
Product managers plan, design, and conduct experiments to test new products and features. They then use this data to make decisions about how to improve products and services. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for product managers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager
Quantitative Analyst
Quantitative analysts plan, design, and conduct experiments to collect and analyze data about financial markets. They then use this data to make decisions about how to invest money. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for quantitative analysts.
See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst
Data Scientist
Data scientists plan, design, and conduct experiments to collect and analyze data about a variety of topics. They then use this data to solve problems and make decisions. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for data scientists.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist
Operational Research Analyst
Operational research analysts plan, design, and conduct experiments to improve the efficiency of operations. They then use this data to make decisions about how to allocate resources and improve processes. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for operational research analysts.
See salaries and explore the career path for Operational Research Analyst
Quality Assurance Manager
Quality assurance managers plan, design, and conduct experiments to test products and services to ensure they meet quality standards. They then use this data to make decisions about how to improve quality. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for quality assurance managers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Manager
Epidemiologist
Epidemiologists plan, design, and conduct experiments to collect and analyze data about the causes of disease. They then use this data to develop strategies to prevent and control disease outbreaks. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for epidemiologists.
See salaries and explore the career path for Epidemiologist
Clinical Research Coordinator
Clinical research coordinators plan, design, and conduct experiments to test new drugs and treatments. They then use this data to help doctors make decisions about how to treat patients. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for clinical research coordinators.
See salaries and explore the career path for Clinical Research Coordinator
Actuary
Actuaries plan, design, and conduct experiments to assess the risks of insurance policies. They then use this data to help insurance companies set rates and make decisions about underwriting risk. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for actuaries.
See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary
Psychometrician
Psychometricians plan, design, and conduct experiments to measure psychological traits and abilities. They then use this data to help develop tests and assessments used in education, psychology, and other fields. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for psychometricians.
See salaries and explore the career path for Psychometrician
Forensic Science Technician
Forensic science technicians plan, design, and conduct experiments to collect and analyze evidence from crime scenes. They then use this data to help law enforcement officials solve crimes. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for forensic science technicians.
See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Science Technician
Biostatistician
Biostatisticians plan, design, and conduct experiments to collect and analyze data about the causes of disease. They then use this data to develop new treatments and therapies. The skills you will learn in this course, such as how to plan, conduct, and analyze experiments, will be essential for success in this role. This course will also help you develop skills in statistical analysis, which is essential for biostatisticians.
See salaries and explore the career path for Biostatistician

Reading list

We've selected eight books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Experimental Design Basics.
Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Data...
Save
Classic in the field of experimental design and is widely used as a textbook at academic institutions and by industry professionals. It provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of experimental design and analysis, and is particularly useful for readers who want to learn more about the underlying theory and methodology of experimental design.
Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Data...
Hardcover
$$$$
Cover image
Experiments
Save
Is another excellent resource for learning about experimental design and analysis. It is particularly strong in its coverage of optimization techniques and valuable reference for readers who want to learn more about how to use experimental design to improve the performance of their systems or processes.
Experiments
Paperback
Check
Experiments
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Statistical Design and Analysis of Experiments
Save
Provides a more gentle introduction to experimental design and analysis than the previous two books. It good choice for readers who are new to the field or who want a more accessible overview of the subject matter.
Statistical Design and Analysis of Experiments,...
Hardcover
$$$$
Cover image
Sample Size Determination and Power
Save
Provides a practical overview of statistical methods for quality improvement. It is particularly useful for readers who want to learn more about how to use experimental design and analysis to improve the quality of their products or services.
Sample Size Determination and Power
Hardcover
$$$
Sample Size Determination and Power (Wiley Series...
Kindle Edition
$$$$
Cover image
A Primer on Experiments with Mixtures
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of mixture experiments. It valuable resource for readers who want to learn more about how to design and analyze experiments that involve mixtures of ingredients.
A Primer on Experiments with Mixtures
Paperback
Check
A Primer on Experiments with Mixtures
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Response Surface Methodology
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of response surface methodology. It valuable resource for readers who want to learn more about how to design and analyze experiments that involve response surfaces.
Response Surface Methodology
Paperback
Check
Response Surface Methodology
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Design of Experiments for Engineers and Scientists
Save
Provides a practical overview of experimental design for engineers and scientists. It is particularly useful for readers who want to learn more about how to design and analyze experiments that are relevant to their field of study.
Design of Experiments for Engineers and Scientists
Paperback
$$$
Design of Experiments for Engineers and Scientists
Paperback
$$$
Design of Experiments for Engineers and Scientists
Hardcover
$$$
Design of Experiments for Engineers and Scientists
Kindle Edition
$$$
Design of Experiments for Engineers and Scientists...
Kindle Edition
$$$
Design of Experiments for Engineers and Scientists
Kindle Edition
$$$
Cover image
Enhancing the Professional Culture of Academic...
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of sequential clinical trials. It is particularly useful for readers who want to learn more about how to design and analyze sequential clinical trials.
Enhancing the Professional Culture of Academic...
Kindle Edition
$$$

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Course image
Effort
4 weeks of study, 4-8 hours/week
Level
Intermediate
Via
Coursera
Institution
Arizona State University
Instructor
Douglas C. Montgomery
Language
English
Transcripts
Español Français Português Deutsch Italiano 中文 العربية 한국어 日本語 हिंदी Nederlands Svenska Pусский Türkçe Polski Ελληνικά українська мова Bahasa Indonesia ไทย қазақша tiếng Việt
This course belongs to a collection called Design of Experiments. It's comprised of four courses:
  1. Factorial and Fractional Factorial Designs
  2. Experimental Design Basics (viewing)
  3. Random Models, Nested and Split-plot Designs
  4. Response Surfaces, Mixtures, and Model Building
Good to know
Introduces foundational elements of designing and analyzing experiments, a common task in various work environments
Taught by Douglas C. Montgomery, a respected expert in the field
Emphasizes the practical aspects of experimental design, focusing on efficient and effective approaches
Utilizes industry-standard software packages for hands-on implementation of design and analysis methods
Provides a solid foundation for beginners looking to build a career in research or data-driven industries
May require students to have access to specific software or statistical packages for assignments and projects
Share and help others discover this course.
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