Animal Use in Science: Exploring the 3Rs

Module 5

Experimental Design and Reproducibility

Competency: Critique elements of experimental design and reporting for reproducibility and validity

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain the steps of the scientific method
  • Describe the characteristics of quality scientific research
  • Explain current threats to quality scientific research including lack of reproducibility, faulty experimental design, and pressure to publish
  • Describe experimental design factors that impact experiment reproducibility
  • Identify reporting factors that impact experimental reproducibility
  • Identify steps researchers take to increase the validity of results
  • Identify strategies for applying the 3 Rs to improve research design and validity

Assessment: Case Study: Forced Swim Test

  • Identify the control, independent, and dependent variables
  • List steps taken to increase the validity of results
  • Correlate the study to the 10 essential ARRIVE guidelines
  • Identify potential limitations of the experimental design
  • Consider data from subsequent human study applications draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the animal study
Download Materials

Lesson plan, worksheets, and activities (PDF, 1.2 MB)

Presentations:

The Scientific Method and Experimental Design
(PowerPoint, 16.3 MB)

Considerations for Well-Designed Animal Experiments
(PowerPoint, 36.8 MB)

Linked External Standards:

CCSS – ELA

RST.11-12.7 Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem.

RST.11-12.8 Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science or technical text, verifying the data when possible and corroborating or challenging conclusions with other sources of information.

RST.11-12.9 Synthesize information from a range of sources (e.g., texts, experiments, simulations) into a coherent understanding of a process, phenomenon, or concept, resolving conflicting information when possible.

W.9-10.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

CCSS - Math

HSN-Q.A.1 Use units as a way to understand problems and to guide the solution of multi-step problems; choose and interpret units consistently in formulas; choose and interpret the scale and the origin in graphs and data displays