Between Group Design: Describes statistical comparison of two or more different groups of subjects that are subject to different experiences or treatments. Between group designs are used when one doesn't have the time, interest, or means to arrive at true explanations for behavior. Thus one learns that Pepsi is preferred over Coke, that folks who drink coffee/eat garlic/drink wine/suck prunes may live long/have less cancer/grow more hair, or maybe not, and all without having to explain why. Between group designs are favored over within group designs because you can prove anything you want (after all, its statistics, isn't it?), and be used to produce conclusions that can fit into neat sound bites on your nightly news.
