What does the "cell mean" represent in a factorial design?

The "cell mean" in a factorial design refers specifically to the average of scores collected within a particular cell of the design. In experimental research, a factorial design involves multiple independent variables, with each combination of levels of these variables creating a unique "cell." For example, if you have two independent variables (A and B) each with two levels, the design will have four cells, one for each combination of levels (A1B1, A1B2, A2B1, A2B2).

The cell mean is calculated by taking the average of the scores that fall into one of these specific combinations. This is a crucial concept because it enables researchers to analyze how different levels of the independent variables interact with each other and influence the dependent variable. By examining cell means, researchers can determine not just the main effects of each independent variable but also any interaction effects between them. Thus, option B accurately captures this definition by summarizing that the cell mean is concerned with scores within a specific cell rather than across the entire dataset or study.