On randomization, modeling and experimental design: some remarks on a paper by De Vos

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Abstract
De Vos (1991) claims to have discovered a new example from agricultural field experimentation which shows that a simple robust spatial model may lead to inference and systematic experimental design that outperforms the inference from randomized experiments by far. In this reaction it is shown that: (1) the example is not new; (2) the gains in efficiency are exaggerated due to comparison with an inefficient randomization method; (3) the paper is over‐optimistic with respect to robustness of model‐based methods and throws unjustified doubts on the validity of randomization methods; (4) the choice between randomization methods and model‐based methods depends on the relative importance attached to efficiency and validity.