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Hello all,

I am preparing a course on the importance of good experimental design and I am searching for short, published articles for the students to read and critique. I would like a few examples of poor experimental design, this could be poor sampling techniques, poor randomisation, poor method, lack of blinding etc. Anything that equates to poor experimental design but the papers must be short reports (max 3 pages) and easy to read as I want this to be a quick exercise for the students.

Papers involving in vivo research, i.e. live animal or human participants would be best.

I'm trawling through the journals and databases now but finding a published 'bad' paper is not as easy as finding a good one (thankfully!) and I thought a few of you may be able to recommend some papers that you have come across during your research.

Many thanks for any suggestions :)

Thank you for the quick response & the reassurance. I'll submit my application tonight :)

Hello All,

I have submitted an application to my preferred university for a PhD placement. I have spoken to my potential supervisor and she is happy for me to apply however she is not sure whether she can get me any funding yet. She will not know until after I have (hopefully) been offered an interview and a place on the course. She will then start looking for funding for me.

However, there is another PhD studentship available at the same university which has guaranteed funding. The deadline is tomorrow and I have my application all ready to go but I am worried that applying for two different PhDs at the same university will be frowned upon & I will jeopardise my chances of getting either? Does anyone know whether it is acceptable to apply for two PhD's at the same university?

I can not do a PhD without funding so obviously I want to apply for the one with guaranteed funding incase I can't get funding for the first one. Both PhD's are within psychology but very different areas (they are both in research areas I am equally passionate about but I worry that the selectors will not know that & just think I am applying for any?).

I'd really appreciate any advice before I submit my second application.

Thank you :-)