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An illustration that statistical design mitigates environmental variation and ensures unambiguous study conclusions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

KH Gore  and
PJ Stanley
KH Gore
Affiliation:
Pfizer Global Research and Development, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9NJ, UK
PJ Stanley*
Affiliation:
Pfizer Global Research and Development, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9NJ, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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This paper highlights the essential need for appropriate statistical design and randomisation in laboratory animal studies. Using an example of a 21 day weight gain study in mice, we show that without the use of an appropriate statistical design and randomisation, incorrect conclusions may have been drawn. We used an experimental design that allowed comparisons to be made between five treatments that were free from systematic error. Two alternative designs that are practically attractive, yet had no statistical basis, are also described in this paper and the potentially incorrect conclusions highlighted. The use of appropriate statistical design is ethical because it results in clear, unambiguous conclusions. Conclusions that may be biased or ambiguous will require verification by further research and this, in the long term, is contrary to the reduction element of the Three Rs.

Keywords

animal welfareenvironmental variationLatin Squarereductionstatistical designThree Rs
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 14 , Issue 4 , November 2005 , pp. 361 - 365
Copyright
© 2005 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

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