Factorial experimental design
Set up, run, and review this analysis in Lifescio.
Supported analysis
Choose the number of factors, a full or regular half fraction, replicates and center runs. The app produces coded factor settings and a randomized order; fractional designs also report their defining relation and aliases.
Supported scope: This workflow generates designs rather than fitting experimental responses. Randomization assumes the runs can be conducted independently; blocking, hard-to-change factors and split-plot restrictions need a different design.
Prepare data and configure the analysis
Choose Number of factors, full or half design, the number of independent Replicates, and additional Center runs. The half fraction requires at least three factors and sets the last factor to the product of the others. It is one specific regular half fraction, not an arbitrary custom generator.
The form produces coded settings: −1 low, +1 high, and 0 center. Keep a separate mapping to actual factor names and physical units. Set the reproducibility seed to retain the same randomized order.
Input reference (4 fields)
Enter your data and prespecified choices. Ranges include both limits. For table fields, use cell editing, Paste data, or Import CSV / TSV. Review whether the first imported row contains headings and map the source columns before applying the import. Empty numeric cells are not treated as zero. Open file is for an exported Lifescio analysis JSON file, not a spreadsheet.
| Input | Format | Allowed range | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of factors | Whole number | 2–6 | — |
| Design | Selection | — | Choices: full, half. |
| Replicates | Whole number | 1–10 | — |
| Center runs | Whole number | 0–20 | — |
Run and review
- Give the analysis a descriptive name and review every example value. Record units, data preparation, and planning assumptions in Reproducibility & notes. For simulations, record the seed and replication or sampling settings.
- Choose Run analysis. Resolve input errors before interpreting output. In the connected app, a run uses a saved input revision; local preview runs need the page to stay open.
- Review Diagnostics for method limitations, warnings, and available numerical checks. A completed run means computation finished; it does not establish that the assumptions fit your study.
- Use the Result table selector to inspect each output. Editing inputs does not recalculate existing results: an earlier-input notice means you need to run again to obtain matching results.
Understand the outputs
Randomized design gives execution Run, original Standard order, and factor columns A, B, etc. Replicates repeat the factorial points; center runs are added separately. Design properties reports run count and the defining relation.
Alias structure shows the main and two-factor effects paired with their aliases for a half fraction. An empty alias table for a full factorial is expected. No outcome data are fitted by this workflow; the output does not contain effect estimates, p-values, or a recommended factor setting.
Troubleshooting and common mistakes
If a requested half fraction is rejected, check that at least three factors were specified. If the run budget is too large, compare design resolution and estimability before reducing the fraction or replication.
Do not execute impossible level combinations merely because they appear in the generated table. This generator does not support blocking, split plots, or custom constrained designs. Preserve the design export before collecting responses so run labels are not reconstructed later.
After correcting inputs, run again and check that the results belong to the new input snapshot. Increasing simulation draws improves numerical precision only; it does not repair invalid data or an unsuitable model.
Save, compare, and export
In the connected app, Save analysis retains the inputs in your account. Run history lets you inspect earlier runs, each with the input revision it used. In local preview, Save analysis downloads an input file instead; download results before leaving the page.
Use Result + inputs for a JSON archive containing the completed result and its inputs, Download CSV for the selected result table, PDF report for a report, and a chart's SVG button for its figure. Table displays round to three decimals; CSV and JSON exports retain calculation precision. Use those values when assessing a result near a decision boundary.
To reopen an archive, select the matching analysis method and choose Open file. Imported inputs start a new draft; a result archive can also display its retained result. It does not attach itself to an existing account analysis or recompute the result. Save or run the imported draft when you want a new account record.