Latin Square Design

A counterbalancing method used in experimental research to control for order and sequence effects when each participant experiences multiple conditions. In a Latin Square arrangement, conditions are ordered so that each condition appears in each position (first, second, third, etc.) an equal number of times across participants. This ensures that any learning effects, fatigue, or practice effects are distributed evenly across conditions rather than systematically favoring one. Latin Square designs are frequently used in accessibility user studies where within-subject designs are necessary due to limited participant pools, and where the order in which participants encounter different assistive tools or interfaces could influence their performance and preferences.