Mantiz New

Practical Aspects

of Experinren:a )esign in Animal

Research

r{

Paula D. Johnson and David G. Besse/sen

Abstract

(Bennett et aI.1990; Diamond 2001; Holmberg 1996; Larsson 2001;Sproull 1995; Weber and Skillings 2000; Webster
1985; Whitcom 2000). Data generated by this approach

A brief overview is prescnted of thc key steps involved in
designing a rcsearch animal experiment,with refercnce to
resources that specifically address each topic of discussion
in more detail. After an idea for a resca¡ch projcct is conceived, a thorough review of the literature and consultationwith experts in that ficld are pursued to refine thc problem
statement and to assimilatc background information that is
neccssary for thc experirlental design phasc. A null and an
allernatehypothesis that addrcss the problem statement arc
thcn formulatcd, and only then is thc specific design of the
expcriment developed. Likely thc most critical stcp in dcsigning anir.nal expcrintents isthe idcntification of the most
appropriatc animal model to addrcss thc expcrintcntal question bcing asked. Other practical considcrations include rlcirning thc neccssary control groups, randornlyassigning
animals to control/treatmcnt groups, dctermining the numbcr of anintals nccded per group, evaluating the logistics of
thc actual pcrlonnance of thc animal expcriments, and idcntifying the mostappropriatc statistical analyses and potential collaborators expcricnced in the area of study. All of
thesc factors are critical to designing an experiment that will
generate scientifically validand rcproducibie data, which

should be considered the ultimate goal
invcstigation.

of any scientific

Key Words: experimental design; laboratory ,ni,.,.,ul.; ,.search methods; scientificmethods

lntroduction
xpcrimcr.rtal dcsign is obviously a critical component
of the success of any rcsearch project. If all aspects of
cxperirncntal design are not thoroughly addrcsscd, scicntists...