Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
1985
Abstract
In biological and biomedical research, the vast majority of resources are focused on conducting experiments. Most of these experiments utilize animals. Only a tiny amount of resources is spent on theory and modeling. It is our contention and the basic theme of this paper that the imbalance between theory and experiment in biology produces very poor science. The implications of which are that many of the experiments conducted have little real scientific meaning or value and, therefore, go hand-in-hand with unnecessary animal use and suffering. Given the finite resources available for research, the redirection of significant resources from an almost entirely experimental approach into one with an emphasis on more theoretical and modeling activity will achieve a much better scientific result while considerably reducing the number of animals used in biological research.
Recommended Citation
Fidelman, M.L., & Mikulecky, D.C. (1985). The imbalance between experiment and theory in biology: The need for theory-directed modeling. In M.W. Fox & L.D. Mickley (Eds.), Advances in animal welfare science 1985/86 (pp. 203-220). Washington, DC: The Humane Society of the United States.
Included in
Bioethics and Medical Ethics Commons, Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons, Research Methods in Life Sciences Commons
