I am working on a paper on leadership and conducting two experimental studies to test my hypotheses. I have some questions about my research design.
Basic information about my two studies:
Study 1:
Teams are randomly assigned to one of four leadership conditions (two leadership styles × two intensity levels)
Each team experiences two sequential phases and engages in tasks in each phase
Leadership style remains constant throughout both phases
Each team completes the same task sequence
Study 2:
Teams are randomly assigned to one of eight transition conditions (combinations of two leadership styles and two intensity levels)
Each team experiences two sequential phases with leadership styles changing between phases
Each team completes the same task sequence
Key Questions:
Is Study 1 correctly classified as a single-factor between-subjects design with four conditions, given that teams experience both phases under the same leadership condition?
Does Study 2 qualify as a mixed factorial design? If so: (What specifically constitutes the between-subjects factor? What specifically constitutes the within-subjects factor?)
Mixed Factorial vs. Between-Subjects Experimental Design
Experimental designs are fundamental in research, as they dictate how data is collected and analyzed. Two commonly employed designs are mixed factorial designs and between-subjects designs, each suited to different research contexts based on the nature of the variables involved.
A mixed factorial design combines at least one between-subjects factor (where participants belong to different groups) and one within-subjects factor (where the same participants are exposed to multiple conditions). This design is particularly useful when researchers aim to study both group differences and changes over time or conditions.
In contrast, a between-subjects design involves testing all independent variables across separate groups of participants. Each participant is exposed to only one condition, ensuring no overlap in experiences and minimizing potential carryover or learning effects.
Mixed Factorial Design: Examples and Test Tools
Example 1: A study examines the effect of diet type (vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian, a between-subjects factor) and time of day (morning vs. evening, a within-subjects factor) on blood glucose levels. Participants are divided into vegetarian and non-vegetarian groups, and their glucose levels are measured in the morning and evening.
Example 2: A study investigates how medication dose (low vs. high, a between-subjects factor) and task difficulty (easy vs. difficult, a within-subjects factor) influence reaction time. Participants are assigned to one medication dose group but complete tasks of varying difficulty levels.
For analyzing mixed factorial designs, the most common statistical test is mixed-design ANOVA, which evaluates main effects and interactions across both between-subjects and within-subjects factors.
Between-Subjects Design: Examples and Test Tools
Example 1: A study evaluates the impact of advertising strategy (humorous vs. informative) on purchase intention. One group views humorous ads, while another group sees informative ads.
Example 2: A study investigates the influence of lighting conditions (bright vs. dim) on reading speed. Participants are divided into two groups, with one group reading under bright light and the other under dim light.
Statistical tools for between-subjects designs include independent-samples t-tests for comparing two groups and one-way or two-way ANOVA for analyzing multiple groups or factors.
Conclusion
While both designs are invaluable in experimental research, their suitability depends on the research objectives. Mixed factorial designs are ideal for examining interactions and changes over time, while between-subjects designs are better for isolating the effects of independent variables. Selecting the appropriate design ensures meaningful and reliable results, paving the way for robust scientific insights.
This reply was got generated after discussions and inputs on research designed mentioned by you