Science forum: RIPOSTE: a framework for improving the design and analysis of laboratory-based research
- University of Leicester, United Kingdom
- University of Leeds, United Kingdom
- King's College London, United Kingdom
- University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom
- University of Newcastle, United Kingdom
- Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, United Kingdom
- Imperial College, United Kingdom
- University of Bristol, United Kingdom
- Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust,, United Kingdom
- Royal London Hospital, United Kingdom
- Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, United Kingdom
- Newcastle University, United Kingdom
- Kings College London, United Kingdom
- University of Southampton and NIHR Southampton Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom
- University College London, United Kingdom
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, United Kingdom
Abstract
Lack of reproducibility is an ongoing problem in some areas of the biomedical sciences. Poor experimental design and a failure to engage with experienced statisticians at key stages in the design and analysis of experiments are two factors that contribute to this problem. The RIPOSTE (Reducing IrreProducibility in labOratory STudiEs) framework has been developed to support early and regular discussions between scientists and statisticians in order to improve the design, conduct and analysis of laboratory studies and, therefore, reduce irreproducibility. The framework is intended for using during the early stages of a research project, when specific questions or hypotheses are proposed. The essential points within the framework are explained and illustrated using three examples (a medical equipment test, a macrophage study and a gene expression study). Sound study design minimises the possibility of bias being introduced into experiments and leads to higher quality research with more reproducible results.
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© 2015, Masca et al.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
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Science forum: RIPOSTE: a framework for improving the design and analysis of laboratory-based research
eLife 4:e05519.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05519
