In statistics, a design matrix is a matrix that is used in certain statistical models, e.g., the general linear model. It can contain indicator variables (ones and zeros) that indicates group membership in an ANOVA and it represents the independent variables. The advantage with a design matrix is that it is able to represent a number of different experimental designs and statistical models, e.g., ANOVA, ANCOVA, and linear regression.
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In general linear models and generalized linear models, the design matrix is the matrix X for the predictor variables which is used in solving the normal equations. X is a matrix, with 1 row for each case and 1 column for each coded predictor variable in the design, whose values identify the levels for each case on each coded predictor. See also general linear model , generalized linear model .