A Guide to Sample Size for Animal-based Studies (EPUB)

Author: Penny S. Reynolds

A Guide to Sample Size for Animal-based Studies

This informative guide is a valuable tool for understanding the intricacies of experimental design in animal-based research.

Animal-based studies play a crucial role in basic and preclinical research, but they come with their own unique set of challenges when it comes to experimental design. One of the key considerations is adhering to the 3Rs – Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement – which serve as the ethical framework for humane animal-based research. However, many researchers find it difficult to strike the right balance between reducing animal use and obtaining robust and accurate scientific data.

A Guide to Sample Size for Animal-based Studies addresses this issue by providing a comprehensive and user-friendly reference on the subject. This book presents a systematic approach to determining the appropriate sample size for animal-based experiments, taking into account important statistical considerations such as research objectives, controlling variation, and designing experiments effectively. The result is a much-needed resource that guides researchers in conducting animal-based research that yields scientifically sound and reliable results.

Key features of this book include:

Step-by-step instructions for various methods of estimating and refining sample size

In-depth coverage of different types of animal-based research, including pilot studies, feasibility studies, and proof-of-concept studies

Methods for estimating sample sizes for different types of data – binary, continuous, ordinal, time to event – and research designs – descriptive, comparative, nested designs, reference interval construction, and dose-response studies

Numerous real-world examples using data from published papers, along with SAS and R code

A Guide to Sample Size for Animal-based Studies is an essential resource for preclinical and veterinary researchers, as well as ethics committees and policymakers. It provides valuable guidance for conducting animal-based research in a manner that ensures scientific accuracy and reliability.