title: Improving design and analysis of research: lessons from clinical research.
abstract: There is a clear need to optimise the use of animals in research and to ensure that the studies that are done make a worthwhile contribution to scientific knowledge. Research that has an inappropriate study design, or is improperly analysed or interpreted, may mislead and is not defensible. Published reviews of the quality of design and analysis in clinical studies are used to see what lessons can be drawn in respect of animal research. The need for clear and full reporting of research is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK/NHS Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK. doug.altman@cancer.org.uk
authors.forename: Douglas G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Altman
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D007756:Laboratory Animal Science / Q000379:methods*; D011786:Quality Control; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000379:methods*