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Which study type is that? A guide to study types

Study and experiment types for Health Sciences and Medicine

Factorial design trial


In a factorial design trial, researchers test multiple factors simultaneously to examine the effects individually and in combination. Each factor will have two or more levels and all combinations are tested. This method is efficient and helps in the discovery of how different variables influence the outcome.

 

factorial design trial

 

Further reading and resources

  • Baker, T. B., Smith, S. S., Bolt, D. M., Loh, W. Y., Mermelstein, R., Fiore, M. C., ... & Collins, L. M. (2017). Implementing clinical research using factorial designs: a primer. Behavior therapy, 48(4), 567-580. Full Text
     
  • Cipriani, A., & Barbui, C. (2013). What is a factorial trial?. Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences, 22(3), 213–215. Full Text
     
  • Montgomery, A. A., Peters, T. J., & Little, P. (2003). Design, analysis and presentation of factorial randomised controlled trials. BMC medical research methodology, 3, 1-5. Full Text
     
  • Kahan BC, Hall SS, Beller EM, et al. Reporting of Factorial Randomized Trials: Extension of the CONSORT 2010 Statement. JAMA. 2023;330(21):2106–2114. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.19793 Link
     
  • Whelan, D. B., Dainty, K., & Chahal, J. (2012). Efficient designs: factorial randomized trials. JBJS, 94(Supplement_1), 34-38. Full Text

  • White IR, Szubert AJ, Choodari-Oskooei B, Walker AS, Parmar MK. When should factorial designs be used for late-phase randomised controlled trials? Clinical Trials. 2024;21(2):162-170. Full Text

Example

Andersson, G., Käll, A., Juhlin, S., Wahlström, C., de Fine Licht, E., Färdeman, S., ... & Berg, M. (2023). Free choice of treatment content, support on demand and supervision in internet-delivered CBT for adults with depression: A randomized factorial design trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 162, 104265. Full Text

 

 


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