Description
Book SynopsisThe careful design of experiments lies at the core of good research. Experimental Design for the Life Sciences equips you with the skills you need to effectively design experiments, making this essential aspect of the research process readily understandable. It demonstrates how good experimental design relies on clear thinking and biological understanding, not mathematical or statistical complexity. With a refreshingly approachable and articulate style, the book walks you through the considerations that go into designing an experiment in clear, practical terms. Using examples drawn from across the life sciences - from ecology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and health sciences - the authors illustrate how these concepts are applied within the broad context of real biological research.Online Resource CentreThe Online Resource centre to accompany Experimental Design for the Life Sciences features:For students: Self-test questions and answers Additional examples Supplementary
Trade ReviewReview from previous edition This is an excellent book for learning how to approach the design of experimental and, indeed, observational work. It avoids the usual inclusion of statistical detail that turns many students off while retaining all the key issues that are necessary for planning studies that produce good science. I commend this book to all those who struggle to get students to think seriously about designing good scientific studies. * Higher Education Academy, Bioscience e-Journal, June 2006 *
I think it is splendid; it is the sort of short and concise text which students remember for a long time and which they hang on to long after the course is passed. * Bernt Walther, Department of Fisheries and Marine Biology, University of Bergen *
A well-presented, clearly argued, concise and witty introduction to one of the most important topics in the life sciences. * Nick Royle, School of Biosciences, Exeter University *
Table of Contents1: Why you should care about design 2: Starting with a well-defined hypothesis 3: Selecting the broad design of your study 4: Between-individual variation, replication, and sampling 5: Pseudoreplication 6: Sample size, power, and efficient design 7: The simplest type of experimental design: completely randomized single-factor 8: Experiments with several factors (factorial designs) 9: Beyond complete randomization: blocking and covariates 10: Within-subject designs 11: Taking measurements
