Hello to everyone,
I've had several discussions with my colleagues about setting up field experiments to be replicated in different environments.
We agree that each experiment must have exactly the same experimental design to ensure data comparability.
I've been told that these experiments must also have the exact same randomization, I don't agree because I believe that it is the experimental design itself that ensures data comparability. Below I attach a drawing to better explain the issue:
In the attached file, I have the same experimental design between locations, with the same randomization within subplots. Shouldn't we randomize the treatments (i, ii, iii and iv) within each subplot? Does it make sense to have an exact copy of experimental fields?
Thanks in advance!
If they have the same randomization then the second experiment is not randomized. Randomization is not duplication. I suppose technically there is some miniscule chance that two randomizations would end up with the same pattern of treatments. In that case I would re-randomize because no reviewer would believe that I had gotten the same pattern twice. There are a large number of randomizations that would not be accepted, so discarding one more is not an issue.
It is randomization, if they are the same or different randomization, I see no problem. Regards.
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