The effective design of scientific experiments is critical to
success, yet graduate students receive very little formal
training in how to do it. Based on a well–received course taught
by the author, Experimental Design for Biologists fills this
gap. Experimental Design for Biologists explains how to
establish the framework for an experimental project, how to set
up a system, design experiments within that system, and how to
determine and use the correct set of controls. Separate chapters
are devoted to negative controls, positive controls, and other
categories of controls that are perhaps less recognized, such as
“assumption controls,” and “experimentalist controls.”
Furthermore, there are sections on establishing the experimental
system, which include performing critical system controls.
Should all experimental plans be hypothesis–driven? Is a
question/answer approach more appropriate? What was the
hypothesis behind the Human Genome Project? What color is the
sky? How does one get to Carnegie Hall? The answ