Factorial Design Experiments Involvling Combinations of...

Factorial research designs are experiments that involve factorial combinations of independent variables. Factorial combinations involve pairing each level of one independent variable with each level of a second independent variable. Factorial combinations make it possible to determine the effect of each independent variable alone (main effect) and the effect of the independent variables in combination (interaction effect). The simplest possible experiment involves one independent variable manipulated at two levels. Similarly, the simplest possible factorial design involves two independent variables, each with two levels. Factorial designs are identified by specifying the number of levels of each of the independent variables in the†¦show more content†¦They were supplied with information about their partner so that they could get a sense of his personal characteristics. In the identity-threat condition, their partner held sexist views. For instance, they would strongly agree with statements such as â€Å"I could not work for a female boss because women can be overly emotional and sensitive†. In the identity-safety condition, the partner was presented as nonsexist and strongly disagreed with sexist statements. The second independent variable in their 2 x 3 design was word type with three levels: 1) social-identity threatening; 2) illness threatening; and 3) nonthreatening. This variable was manipulated using a repeated measures design; thus, all participants were tested with all three-word types in a completely counterbalanced order. The social-identity threatening words were sexist in content, such as hooters and ho. The illness-threatening words (mono, Alzheimer’s, cancer) were included as a control condition to determine whether women in the identity-threat condition would pay attention to threatening words in general and not just social-identity threatening words. The nonthreatening words, also a control condition, describ ed household objects such as curtains and broom. In on part of Kaiser et al.’s study, all three-word types were presented subliminally in different colors, and participants’ task