Experimental Design for the Life Sciences

by Graeme D. Ruxton, Nick Colegrave

At the core of good research lies the careful design of experiments. However, all too often a successful design comes only after a painful trial-and-error process that wastes valuable time and resources.

Now in a new edition, Experimental Design for the Life Sciences teaches today's students how to effectively design experiments, equipping them with the skills they need to become tomorrow's top researchers. Employing a refreshingly approachable and articulate style, the text explains the essential
elements of experimental design in clear, practical terms, so that students can grasp and apply even the most challenging concepts, including power analysis and pseudoreplication. In addition, it emphasizes the interrelatedness of experimental design, statistics, and ethical considerations
throughout. A broad range of examples--drawn from the primary literature and the authors' extensive personal experience--demonstrate the practical relevance of experimental design in real-life biological research.

The only undergraduate text devoted to this topic, Experimental Design for the Life Sciences, Third Edition, demonstrates how good experimental design relies on clear thinking and biological understanding, not on mathematical or statistical complexity.

Pedagogical Features

* Self-test questions, with answers at the end of the book, reinforce essential facts and encourage students to check their understanding as they progress

* Take-home messages throughout chapters focus students' attention on the principles that they must master

* Coverage of ethical issues, flagged in the margins, raises awareness of this important aspect of the field

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Biology

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2003

Reviews

[Niko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to experimental design. A lot of information from this book is glossed over in some courses, but it is never fully and explicitly covered. There are no big revelations in this book, but it lays the groundwork and points in the right direction for further reading, which is perfectly practical for a concept that permeates the entirety of scientific work but is rarely studied by itself.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basics on how to conduct an experiment, what type of tests to use. Mainly first ask question, write hypothesis, design experiment and know what test you will use BEFORE doing the experiment.
In the process you learn of you need to block some variables, how many participants, etc.

[Iris E DJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good explanations, but a bit boring (but, as it's a textbook, that's to be expected)

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess, as I approach the end of my career, I know everything in this extremely clear book, but I never studied it as a separate subject - it was just part of "statistics". This is a great textbook on an important subject. I know some people like sans serif fonts, but I found this hard to read - I guess if it were an e-book I could just change it to Times New Roman. Recommended by Marina V.

[Marina Varfolomeeva · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good beginner course in Experimental Design for biologists. A bit lengthy, however, insightful examples. As for me, I should have read it long time ago.