Question

The Madison Cosmetics Company has developed a new women's facial cleanser that they believe is superior to those currently on the market in the $5 - $10 range. They wish to test the cleanser against the two current best-sellers.

A. Identify a potential problem with using a completely randomized experimental design to test the cleanser. Explain.
B. The company executives decide to design and carry out a block design experiment to test the new cleanser against its competition. Choose an appropriate blocking scheme for the experiment and justify your choice.
C. Should the company put a control group into the experiment? Why or why not?
D. Could the experiment be a double-blind experiment? Explain.

Answer 1

a. there could be a problem of high error

b. randomized block design can remove the issue of heterogeneity

c. yes they should

d, yes it could

Explanation:

a. if their is a lack of homogeneity among the sample population, then the results that would be obtained are going to be with increased experimental error.

b. given the number of treatment, the randomized block design technique can be done. This would then remove the issue of heterogeneity. It also gives more information and the results from the test are easier. Even in the presence of missing data, the missing plot technique can be employed.

c. when a control group is used, it makes easier the examination of the market research in a more effective way.

d. Yes it could be a double blind one. This would help to take away the problem of bias.