A general computer programme for the analysis of factorial experiments

A general programme for the analysis of factorial experiments is described. The programme was written in Extended Mercury Autocode for the I.C.T. Orion computer at Rothamsted. It can deal with experiments with up to seven factors, including those with complete or partial confounding and multiple splits, arranged in randomised blocks, Latin or quasi-Latin squares, or criss-cross designs. Partially confounded contrasts have to be specified by the user, but for the commoner types of design the correct arrangement of the analysis of variance is provided automatically. Properly adjusted tables of treatment means are produced and covariance and missing values are provided for. An outline of the least-square theory of confounded designs is appended. Improvements incorporated in a revised version of the programme are described in an addendum.