Key concepts in the design and reporting of animal experiments

Good experimental design is fundamental to robust, reliable and reproducible research, and yet there is often not dedicated time spent focused on this. 

This seminar introduces key concepts of good experimental design to promote good science, covering widely applicable concepts such as randomisation, masking and sample size justification. These are reinforced with exercises demonstrating how to put these concepts into practice. 

• Audience: Graduate students. 
• Format: Seminar with interactive components, in-person or online. 
• Length: One hour. 

• Understand the importance of good experimental design. 
• Gain an understanding of key concepts such as randomisation, masking and sample size calculation. 
• Learn how to apply these to in vivo experiments. 
• Be aware of the further resources available to support good experimental design.

The primary audience for this seminar is graduate students, in particular those that are or will be using animals as a part of their research projects, or data or tissue derived from research involving the use of animals. The material can also be tailored for more experienced early career researchers. 

The examples used largely concern in vivo research involving the use of animals so will be most relevant to an audience engaged with this type of research but the principles can be applied to any experimental research. 

This course has no prerequisites. 

This material is typically delivered as a one-hour talk with some interactive elements. This is equally suited to online or in-person delivery. 

• For in-person delivery, a space with appropriate audio-visual set-up such as a lecture theatre or seminar room. 
• For online delivery, a list of attendees with institutional email addresses. 
• A minimum of 15 attendees. 
• To discuss these requirements or to find out more, please contact us. 

• A member of staff with experimental design expertise to deliver the talk and interactive exercises. 
• A pdf copy of the slides after the workshop for dissemination to attendees. 
• The member of staff that delivered the workshop will also be contactable via email for further follow-up. 

If you would like to book this course or discuss further, please contact the Training and Engagement team.