Discovering experimental design: An interactive teaching exercise using Fisher's <scp>tea‐tasting</scp> experiment

An appreciation of experimental design is an important aspect introductory statistics teaching in a wide range applied disciplines, including medical statistics. Understanding the impact decisions on choice analysis method and subsequent interpretation results can help to embed importance statistical thinking process. I discuss interactive exercise, based R.A. Fisher's celebrated “Lady Tasting Tea” experiment, that intended raise awareness issues as part undergraduate module. The exercise used discovery approach, with students encouraged identify agree solutions themselves via small group discussion, only low-level prompting from instructor. value this style possible extensions tea-tasting experiment other related topics suitable for more widespread use are also discussed.