Checklist

Experimental Design Quick-Check

A guided, savable checklist to quickly evaluate key experimental design decisions (hypothesis, controls, randomization, sample size, analysis plan, data QA, and safety). Includes prompts and a notes field to capture unresolved risks and action items.

Interactive Tool

Experimental Design Quick-Check

Use this quick checklist to assess whether your planned experiment includes the essentials for producing credible, interpretable results. Answer each item and add notes where necessary. Use the Notes field to capture unresolved risks and next steps you must address before starting.

State the primary hypothesis and the specific primary endpoint you will use to test it. Avoid multiple competing primary outcomes.
Describe control conditions and why chosen. Include negative, vehicle, sham, or active comparators as appropriate. Note any unavoidable limitations.
Note how randomization will be implemented and whether blinding is feasible for personnel and outcome assessment. If blinding is impossible, document steps to reduce bias.
Select how sample size was determined. A formal power calculation is preferred when you have estimates of effect size and variability.
Enter planned n per group if available. Useful for later review and documentation.
Have you documented primary and key secondary analyses, inclusion/exclusion criteria, handling of missing data, and planned covariates? Registering or timestamping the analysis plan improves transparency.
Confirm metadata capture, data formats, calibration, QC checks, versioning, and who is responsible for QA. Include data storage and backup plans.
Specify interim analyses, stopping thresholds, and safety monitoring processes if the study involves risk to participants, animals, or critical resources.
Confirm IRB/IACUC or other approvals are in place before starting work that requires them. Document approval IDs or dates if available.
List unresolved design questions, immediate risks, mitigation steps, and next actions. This field helps convert the checklist into a short action plan.
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