Experimental unit

Definition

An experimental unit is the smallest division of the experimental material such that any two units may receive different treatments. It is fundamental to the design of experiments as it determines the granularity of treatment application.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. An experimental unit can be an individual, a plot of land, or any other single entity subjected to a treatment.
2. The choice of experimental units affects the validity and reliability of statistical conclusions.
3. In randomized experiments, treatments are assigned randomly to experimental units to avoid bias.
4. Each experimental unit should be independent from others to ensure valid results.
5. Statistical analyses often assume that responses from different experimental units are independent.

Review Questions

• What is an experimental unit and why is it important in an experiment?
• How does random assignment of treatments to experimental units help in avoiding bias?
• Explain why independence between experimental units is crucial for statistical analysis.

Related terms

Treatment:

A specific condition or intervention applied to an experimental unit in an experiment.

Randomization:

The process of assigning treatments to experimental units in a random manner to avoid selection bias.

Control Group:

A group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment and is used as a benchmark to measure how the other tested subjects do.