For experiments to produce useful and beneficial results, they must be both reliable and reproducible. This requires appropriate experimental design and proper execution. Careful planning and understanding of each key element of the design process are necessary to ensure suitability. This free Experimental Design eLearning package, designed by the British Pharmacological Society with support with the support of NC3Rs, provides guidance on specific aspects of experimental design to help achieve these goals.
Visit the Experimental Design eLearning, hosted on the BPS Assessment portal.
Sample Size and Statistical Power
Choosing appropriate replications within the experimental design
Aimed at anyone who needs to analyse literature and/or data generated from studies involving research animals, this resource will help you understand why choosing an appropriate sample size is an essential part of good experimental design.
Types of Experiment
How the purpose of the experiment influences the experimental design
This resource is perfect for those who are required to design experiments and want to ensure that they are capable of achieving the research’s objectives. Gain a deeper understanding of how the objectives of an experiment can impact its design through this informative guide.
Blinding
Reducing bias in experimental design
This resource is aimed at anyone who needs to analyse literature and/or data generated from studies involving research animals. Watch the short animation and see if you can answer the related quiz questions, then push your skills further by conducting the literature review task. Endorsed by NC3Rs.
Experimental Unit
A fundamental part of experimental design
This resource provides valuable insight into the significance of identifying the “experimental unit” for designing and analysing experiments. This content is crucial for anyone who needs to analyse literature or data from any experiment, with examples that are particularly relevant to in vivo research animals and/or in vitro tissues.
