Statistiek en experiment

Statistics and Experiments After a brief survey of the general importance of the statistical design of experiments, two particular examples are discussed in detail, one dealing with a series of 7 simple experiments on the proper conditions for the production of swaged joints, the other being a 3 × 3 × 3 design on emission in radiovalves. These examples provide illustrative material for some problems of a general nature, to which little attention is paid in textbooks on the subject. Often more factors are mentioned than can be conveniently incorporated in a single experiment. One of the secrets of succesful experimentation lies in making a proper choice of those factors which should go into an experiment. Where experimentation is easy and rapid a series of simple two — or three — factor experiments is better than one complex design. Analysis of variance is not always needed; frequently too the data resulting from an experiment indicate that text‐book methods of analysis do not apply and the statistician or experimenter should be trained in recognizing such situations and in dealing with them. The paper ends with some general conclusions concerning the present and future status of statistics as an integral part of experimental science.