Improving reproducibility in animal research by splitting the study population into several 'mini-experiments'.

ABSTRACT: In light of the hotly discussed 'reproducibility crisis', a rethinking of current methodologies appears essential. Implementing multi-laboratory designs has been shown to enhance the external validity and hence the reproducibility of findings from animal research. We here aimed at proposing a new experimental strategy that transfers this logic into a single-laboratory setting. We systematically introduced heterogeneity into our study population by splitting an experiment into several 'mini-experiments' spread over different time points a few weeks apart. We hypothesised to observe improved reproducibility in such a 'mini-experiment' design in comparison to a conventionally standardised design, according to which all animals are tested at one specific point in time. By comparing both design

SUBMITTER: von Kortzfleisch VT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7538440 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature