Design Notation

R  O  X  O

"The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating
the problem in a way that will allow a solution."
Bertrand Russell

Design notation is a way to indicate the number of factors and the number of levels of each factor. This system provides the researcher with all the information necessary for describing an experimental design. Be aware of the fact that design notation is a very flexible system with respect to symbol definition. In order to accurately interpret the results of another researcher's work that utilizes design notation, that researcher must provide a legend that defines the meaning of the symbols. The elements of design notation are:

· “O” is the symbol for an observation or measurement.

· “X” is the symbol for a program or treatment group. 

· The “Groups” (program and control) are each 
  given their own line for their notation symbol(s). 
  For example, if there are three lines there are
  three groups.

· “Assignment Groups”- At the beginning of each 
  line you will see letters (called notation symbols), 
  the first letter describes how the group was 
  assigned:

        R= RANDOM ASSIGNMENT
        N= NONEQUIVALENT GROUP DESIGN
        C= CUTOFF POINT FOR ASSIGN

     Note: If you do not see one of the above 
              three letters on a notation line
              and the line begins with an “O”, 
              that line indicates a nonequivalent 
              group.