At the core of good research lies the careful design of experiments. Yet all too often a successful design comes only after a painful trial-and-error process, wasting valuable time and valuable resources.

Experimental Design for the Life Sciences teaches the reader how to effectively design experiments, to ensure that today's students are equipped with the skills they need to be the researchers of tomorrow. With a refreshingly approachable and articulate style, the book explains the essential elements of experimental design in clear, practical terms, so that the reader can grasp and apply even the most challenging concepts, including power analysis and pseudoreplication.

Emphasising throughout the inter-relatedness of experimental design, statistics, and ethical considerations, the book ensures that the reader really understands experimental design in the broader context of biological research, using examples drawn from a range of fields across the biosciences to show to the student how the theory is applied in active research.

Above all, Experimental Design for the Life Sciences shows how good experimental design is about clear thinking and biological understanding, not mathematical or statistical complexity - putting it at the heart of any biosciences student's education.

Online Resource Centre: The companion web site features: For lecturers: · Figures from the book available to download, to facilitate lecture preparation For students and lecturers: · Discussion forum, promoting the discussion of experimental design in real research, to stimulate active learning on the part of the student.

New to this edition

• New 'statistics' boxes strengthen the link between experimental design and statistics, helping students to fully understand how the two issues inter-relate.
• New self-check questions throughout chapters, with answers at the end of the book, encourage students to check their understanding as they proceed through the book, to help make learning as effective as possible.
• New take-home messages highlight key concepts throughout chapters, to focus the students' attention on the principles that they really must grasp.
• Expanded range of illustrations present even more concepts in a visual way, to increase comprehension of the text.

Discussion of ethical issues flagged in the margin, to raise awareness of this important aspect of experimental design.

• Preface - How to use this book
• Why care about design?
• Starting with a well defined question
• Between-individual variation, replication and sampling
• Different experimental designs
• Taking measurements
• Final thoughts