A Study of the Group Screening Method

Abstract

This paper discusses the problem of group screening methods wherein f factors are sub-divided into groups of k factors each, forming g “group-factors”. The group factors are then studied using a Plackett and Burman design in Q + 1 runs. The two versions of the group factors are formed by maintaining all component factors at their upper and lonrer levels respectively. All factors in groups found to have a large effects are then studied in a second stage of experiments. The author discusses the problems of detection and false detection of factors, optimum group size, size of program, and the role of costs in this sequential form of experimentation.