1 - Introduction

Summary

Many researchers, either directly or indirectly, rely on statistical ideas when carrying out animal experiments. While some statistical tools are well known and are applied routinely, other tools are less well understood and so are less well used. The overall aim of this book is to discuss statistical methodologies that can be applied throughout the many stages of the experimental process. Researchers should be able to carry out most of the techniques described, although the advice of a professional statistician is advisable for some of the more advanced topics. Making use of these techniques will ensure that experiments are conducted in a logical and efficient way, which should result in reliable and reproducible decisions.

The particular types of study addressed in this book, as the title suggests, are studies involving animals. We attempt to cover all of the statistical tools that the animal researcher should use to run successful studies. Of course many of the problems faced by the animal researcher are common to other disciplines, and hence the ideas contained within this book can be applied to other areas. It should be noted that certain topics described in the text have been simplified to allow non-statisticians to apply the ideas without professional statistical support. Such pragmatic descriptions, while simplifying the technical details, are not universal and will not be applicable in all scientific disciplines.