Experimental Design for the Life Sciences

by Graeme D. Ruxton, Nick Colegrave

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

Experimental Design for the Life Sciences teaches the reader how to effectively design experiments, to ensure that today's students are equipped with the skills they need to be the researchers of tomorrow. With a refreshingly approachable and articulate style, the book explains the essential
elements of experimental design in clear, practical terms, so that the reader can grasp and apply even the most challenging concepts, including power analysis and pseudoreplication.

Emphasizing throughout the inter-relatednedd of experimental design, statistics, and ethical considerations, the book ensures that the reader really understands experimental design in the broader context of biological research, using examples drawn from the primary literature to show to the student
how the theory is applied in active research.

Above all, Experimental Design for the Life Sciences shows how good experimental design is about clear thinking and biological understanding, not mathematical or statistical complexity - putting it at the heart of any biosciences student's education.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Biology

184 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.