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. 2015 May 7:4:e05519.
doi: 10.7554/eLife.05519.

RIPOSTE: a framework for improving the design and analysis of laboratory-based research

Nicholas Gd Masca  1 , Elizabeth Ma Hensor  2 , Victoria R Cornelius  3 , Francesca M Buffa  4 , Helen M Marriott  5 , James M Eales  6 , Michael P Messenger  7 , Amy E Anderson  8 , Chris Boot  9 , Catey Bunce  10 , Robert D Goldin  11 , Jessica Harris  12 , Rod F Hinchliffe  13 , Hiba Junaid  14 , Shaun Kingston  15 , Carmen Martin-Ruiz  16 , Christopher P Nelson  17 , Janet Peacock  18 , Paul T Seed  19 , Bethany Shinkins  20 , Karl J Staples  21 , Jamie Toombs  22 , Adam Ka Wright  23 , M Dawn Teare  24
Affiliations

RIPOSTE: a framework for improving the design and analysis of laboratory-based research

Nicholas Gd Masca et al. Elife. .

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, to reduce irreproducibility. This framework is intended for use 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.

Keywords: experimental design; human biology; interdisciplinary research; medicine; none; reproducibility; science forum; statistical design.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Box 1 Figure 1.
Box 1 Figure 1.. Equipment set-up for elastomer pump experiment.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05519.005
Box 2 Figure 1.
Box 2 Figure 1.. Production of differentiated macrophages from donor samples.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05519.007
Box 2 Figure 2.
Box 2 Figure 2.. Infection and treatment of donor macrophages.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05519.008
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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