Factorial experimental designs – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B, C and E accurately describe factorial designs, whereas D and F are false. Statement A is true because factorial designs study main effects of multiple independent variables. Statement B correctly notes that interactions between variables can be assessed, and statement C is right about the structure of a 2×3 design. Statement E is also true since each combination of factor levels forms a separate condition, while D is false as factorial designs are common in educational settings and F is false because they are not limited to single-group pre-test–post-test formats.

Option A:
Option A includes all the correct statements (A, B, C and E) and excludes the incorrect ones (D and F). It recognises the capacity of factorial designs to examine main and interaction effects with multiple experimental conditions. Therefore this option is the correct answer.

Option B:
Option B leaves out E, overlooking the fact that each factor-level combination forms its own condition or group. Without E, the description of factorial designs is incomplete and lacks a key structural feature.

Option C:
Option C introduces F along with some correct statements. Since F is false in describing factorial designs as always single-group pre-test–post-test designs, any option containing it cannot be regarded as entirely correct.

Option D:
Option D includes F and omits B, misrepresenting the ability of factorial designs to test interactions and wrongly construing their format. By mixing a false statement with true ones and missing an important correct one, this combination is invalid.