A campus researcher wanted to investigate the factors that affect visitor travel time in a complex, multilevel building on campus. Specifically, he wanted to determine whether different building signs (building maps versus wall signage) affect the total amount of time visitors require to reach their destination and whether that time depends on whether the starting location is inside or outside the building. Three subjects were assigned to each of the combinations of signs and starting locations, and travel time in seconds from beginning to destination was recorded. How should the data be analyzed?
A) completely randomized design
B) randomized block design
C) 2 x 2 factorial design
D) Levene's test

Question

A campus researcher wanted to investigate the factors that affect visitor travel time in a complex, multilevel building on campus. Specifically, he wanted to determine whether different building signs (building maps versus wall signage) affect the total amount of time visitors require to reach their destination and whether that time depends on whether the starting location is inside or outside the building. Three subjects were assigned to each of the combinations of signs and starting locations, and travel time in seconds from beginning to destination was recorded. How should the data be analyzed? 
A) completely randomized design 
B) randomized block design 
C) 2 x 2 factorial design 
D) Levene's test

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A 2 x 2 factorial design is the best choice because the researcher wants to investigate the effects of two factors (building signage and starting location) on visitor travel time. By assigning three subjects to each combination of these factors, the researcher will be able to examine the main effects of each factor (e.g. whether building maps or wall signage lead to faster travel times), as well as any interaction effects (e.g. whether the effect of signage is different depending on whether the starting location is inside or outside the building). A randomized block or completely randomized design would not allow for the examination of these specific effects, and Levene's test is a test for equality of variances, which is not relevant in this context.

A Campus Researcher Wanted to Investigate the Factors That Affect