Hypothesis Testing
Hypothesis testing is the foundation of scientific advancement. You should take time to plan your experiment to make sure that any observations that you make are genuine and defensible. The first step is to usually check the literature to make sure your planned experiments have not been done before, and to make sure that know about the properties (selectivity, pharmacokinetics, and safety) of any chemical entity you will work with. For in vivo experimentation, you must make sure you have selected the correct dose-range.
It is also important to conduct a pilot experiment before committing to a large number of experiments employing a new technique. Click here for more details.
It is also important to conduct a pilot experiment before committing to a large number of experiments employing a new technique. Click here for more details.
Designing an Experiment
- Before beginning work, you should perform a power calculation to determine the number of independent observations needed for the experiment to test the hypothesis correctly (click here). You also need to know which statistical test is appropriate for your kind if data. Sketch out your expected results to help you visualize if you would have answered your question of interest.
- Try to define the primary and secondary outcomes of your experiment. You must decide how you would run your experiment (e.g. randomized or randomized block design, or cross-over design) and try to run the experiment in a blinded manner.
- Make sure you keep your data organized in a proper Laboratory book and keep a Record of Experimentation using Form 6, which by Law must be updated at the close of each day. You must also complete a Form 7 at the end of each year. Click here for access to both Forms and additional information.
- The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), has an excellent Experimental Design Assistant – EDA – that deals with all aspects of experimental design.
- Please also visit the NC3Rs website to see The ARRIVE Checklist which you should use when submitting manuscripts describing animal research.
Useful Websites
The Laboratory Animal Services Centre, CUHK
Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee, CUHK
CUHK Guidelines for the Use of Experimental Animals (Schedule 7)
Department of Health, Animal (Control of Experiments) Ordinance, Cap 340
The Hong Kong Code of Practice for Care and Use of Animals for Experimental Purposes
International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals
Procedures with Care, A guide to Animal Handling and Administration of Substances
IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology
International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium
Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee, CUHK
CUHK Guidelines for the Use of Experimental Animals (Schedule 7)
Department of Health, Animal (Control of Experiments) Ordinance, Cap 340
The Hong Kong Code of Practice for Care and Use of Animals for Experimental Purposes
International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals
Procedures with Care, A guide to Animal Handling and Administration of Substances
IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology
International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium
