How am I going to compute for sample Size?

Question

We already had decided on a few importnt things for our research.We are going to use rabbits as our test animal. We are going to compare two groups using a paired t-test.
Each group is composed of 8 rabbits. Here is the flow of our procedure...acclimatize rabbits for 3 days, then get baseline cholesterol level of both groups.next, we are going to fed the 2 groups with pellets coated with lard inorder to increase their serum cholesterol level.Then get the cholesterol level(pre-test). Then for four weeks, we will treat the experimental group with geen tea while the control group for simvastatin which is a cholesterol lowering drug and then compare the result(post-test).

How are we going to compute for the sample size?

How will it differ if were are going to do these just by using 3 rabbits for each group?Or is that possible?

Answer 1

Your rabbits will need to be naturally paired as described on this web page, or a means test may be more appropriate. The section on experimental design may be helpful also.

http://www.tnstate.edu/ganter/BIO%20311%20Ch%209%20PairedSample.html#RandSamp

Also see

http://www.bmj.com/statsbk/13.shtml

and

http://www-micro.msb.le.ac.uk/1010/1011-20.html

Answer 2

Dear Mike! The way you put your question I can conclude that you are not professional in experimental research. Don’t feel pissed off! You better cooperate with a chap who knows: how to formulate the task, how to plan an experimental procedure, how to treat acquired experimental data, how to make scientific conclusions. No matter this chap being a professional in pharmacology or medicine.
Only professional statistical approach can guarantee you of blunders to receive the best results with minimal cost.