Research method · Step 3
Designing an experiment that can return a no
An experiment that can only confirm the preferred direction is a demonstration. A useful design gives evidence a fair opportunity to reject the hypothesis, distinguish explanations and stop investment.
01
What this step decides
Design backwards from the decision
The evidence needed for the next action determines threshold, comparison, sample and controls.
Protect the evaluation
Use representative conditions and keep evaluation cases separate from optimisation.
Stage the investment
Run discriminating, parameter, robustness, transfer and operational tests only as the evidence earns progression.
02
How it works in a commercial setting
Commercial research must be rigorous without becoming detached from operations. We design around safety, production, data access, cost and time while keeping the question and evidence standard intact. Practical constraints are recorded as part of the operating envelope, not edited out of the result.
03
A worked example
Two inspection methods should be compared on the same reference set, rare-defect strata, compute conditions and false-alert capacity — not on separate favourable images and headline accuracy.
04
The record this step leaves behind
- Experiment protocol
- Sampling and comparison plan
- Measurement and analysis method
- Success, failure and stop rules
- Run responsibilities and deviation procedure
The Ignition research value chain
One methodology, six steps — each with a named output
- 01FrameA testable research question
- 02DesignExperiment plan & controls
- 03ExecuteRuns & recorded findings
- 04IntegrateSpecialists, coordinated
- 05GovernEvidence log & audit trail
- 06ReturnValidated, claim-ready records
General information only. This page does not determine R&D Tax Incentive eligibility and is not tax, legal, financial or grant advice. Whether any government support pathway may be relevant depends on the project's specific activities, structure, evidence and the current program rules.
Next step
A researcher reads your description — not a salesperson.
Bring the operating problem, the result you cannot explain or the decision your team cannot make with confidence. You will get a reply within two business days — including when the honest answer is that a research pathway is not the right tool.