Systems and methods for designing experiments

Abstract

Methods and systems for designing an experiment using a computer to determine whether the experiment is a true experiment are described. These approaches allow a user who is unsophisticated in the complexities of true experimental design to design and deploy an experiment that produces substantially confound-free results and can be used to determine and quantify any causal relationship between independent and dependent variables. The computer may select one or more independent and/or dependent variables of the experiment or may assist the user in selection of independent and/or dependent variables. Formation of control and treatment groups, randomization and/or blocking to reduce the effects of confounding variables may be performed by the computer with or without input from the user.

1 . A method comprising designing an experiment using a computer to determine whether the experiment is a true experiment.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein designing the experiment comprises designing the experiment using the computer to select one or more independent variables of the experiment.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein designing the experiment comprises designing the experiment using the computer to assist a user in selection of one or more independent variables of the experiment.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein designing the experiment comprises designing the experiment using the computer to select one or more dependent variables of the experiment.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein designing the experiment comprises designing the experiment using the computer to assist a user in selection of one or more dependent variables of the experiment.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein designing the experiment comprises designing the experiment using the computer to form at least one of a control group and a treatment group of the experiment.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein designing the experiment comprises designing the experiment using the computer to randomize at least one of a control group and a treatment group of the experiment.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein designing the experiment comprises designing the experiment using the computer to assist a user in forming at least one of a control group and a treatment group of the experiment.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein designing the experiment comprises designing the experiment using the computer to assist a user in randomizing at least one of a control group and a treatment group of the experiment.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein designing the experiment comprises designing the experiment using the computer to apply blocking to reduce effects of one or more confounding variables of the experiment.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein designing the experiment comprises designing the experiment using the computer to assist a user in applying blocking to reduce effects of one or more confounding variables of the experiment.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing the experiment.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein running the experiment comprises using the computer to automatically run the experiment.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein running the experiment comprises using the computer to assist a user in running the experiment.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising analyzing results of the true experiment.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein analyzing the results of the experiment comprises automatically analyzing the results via the computer.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein analyzing the results of the experiment comprises using the computer to assist a user in analyzing the results of the experiment.  
     
     
         18 . A system for designing true experiments comprising a design processor configured to determine whether an experiment is a true experiment.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the design processor is configured to select at least one of an independent variable and a dependent variable of the experiment.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the design processor is configured to form at least one of a control group and a treatment group of the experiment.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the design processor is configured to apply blocking to reduce effects of one or more confounding variables of the experiment.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a user interface configured to accept input from a user, wherein the design processor is configured to use the input to design the experiment.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the design processor is configured to assist the user in selection of at least one of an independent variable and a dependent variable of the experiment using the user input.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the design processor is configured to assist the user in selection of at least one of a control group and a treatment group of the experiment based on the user input.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the design processor is configured to assist the user in applying blocking to reduce effects of one or more confounding variables of the experiment based on the user input.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a deployment unit configured to run the experiment.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising an analysis unit configured to analyze results of the experiment.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the analysis unit is configured to analyze results of the experiment without input from a user.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the analysis unit is configured to analyze results of the experiment using input from a user.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the experiment comprises a digital signage experiment.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the experiment involves an advertisement.  
     
     
         32 . A system, comprising: 
 means for designing an experiment using a computer to determine whether the experiment is a true experiment; and    means for selecting one or more of a dependent and an independent variable of the experiment.    
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising means for forming one or more of a control group and a treatment group of the experiment.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising means for applying blocking to reduce effects of one or more confounding variables of the experiment.