The Role of Screening Studies in Sequential Research Designs

Abstract

A screening study is an economical method for analyzing a large number of independent variables using a relatively small number of data points. The role of screening studies in sequential research designs is discussed and demonstrated. The methodology for selecting variables, choosing an experimental design, and collecting data is presented by reviewing the results of a recent study. The screening study was conducted using a Hadamard matrix to investigate the effects of 16 variables on a telephone information system which uses synthetic speech as the display modality. Only 32 data points were required to evaluate 16 factors in the screening study. The results of this study are discussed in terms of strategies to conduct efficient sequential research in human factors.

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