Statistical Design and Analysis of Biological Experiments

This book provides an overview of the design and analysis of experiments with a focus on non-clinical experiments in the life sciences, including animal research. It covers common aspects of experimental design, large-scale experiments, and statistical analysis, with real-life examples and discussions. It is intended for students, teachers, and researchers in experimental biology and biomedicine.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 269 pages
Publication date: 17 April 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive and visually stunning book offers a comprehensive guide to designing and analyzing experiments, with a particular emphasis on non-clinical experiments in the life sciences, including animal research. It delves into the most fundamental aspects of experimental design, such as managing multiple treatment factors and enhancing precision. Moreover, it addresses the challenges of conducting experiments with a large number of treatment factors and utilizes response surface methods to optimize experimental conditions or biotechnological yields.

The book underscores the importance of estimating effect sizes and employing statistical reasoning within the broader scientific framework. It progresses from classical analysis of variance to modern linear mixed models, providing detailed explanations on power analysis and sample size determination, including practical "portable power formulas" for quick approximate calculations. Furthermore, thorough discussions of several real-life examples showcase the complexities and deviations that can occur in practical applications.

Primarily designed for students, teachers, and researchers in the fields of experimental biology and biomedicine, this book is self-contained and begins with a foundational overview of basic statistical concepts. The underlying ideas and necessary mathematics are gradually introduced through increasingly complex variants of a single example. Hasse diagrams serve as powerful tools for visualizing and comparing experimental designs, facilitating the derivation of appropriate models for analysis. Manual calculations are provided for early examples, allowing readers to follow the analyses in detail. For more complex calculations, statistical software R is utilized, although the principles are easily transferable to other software platforms.

While there are no strict prerequisites for utilizing this book effectively, prior exposure to statistical concepts and basic experimental design principles would be beneficial. Overall, this book serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to enhance their understanding and proficiency in designing and analyzing experiments in the life sciences.

Weight: 438g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030696436
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021