Unit 1 — Questions, comparisons, and experimental units
Wednesday 2 September, 12:30–16:00
This opening class connects a biological question to the comparison an experiment creates. The central question is: what is the smallest unit that can be independently assigned to a treatment?
Students will distinguish experimental units from observation or measurement units and practise following the treatment assignment through animal-science examples involving animals, pens, litters, cages, tanks, and paddocks.
Readings and short preparation videos on research questions, treatments, responses, experimental units, replication, and random allocation will be added here.
The main practical exercise is an experimental-unit card sort. Groups will classify progressively more challenging studies by asking:
- What receives the treatment?
- What is independently randomised?
- What is measured or observed?
- How many true treatment replicates are present?
Detailed timings and materials will be added when the activity files are ready.
Consolidation will focus on independence and pseudoreplication and will prepare students to diagnose whole experimental designs in Unit 2.