Introduction to Core Principles in Mental Health Research

Session 1 notes

FINER criteria

A framework defining the key attributes of a good research question: Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, and Relevant.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for a phenomenon that is clear and testable, serving as the core of the scientific method.

Primary hypothesis

The identified main hypothesis whose testing constitutes the central purpose of an empirical study, aligned with statistical assumptions of single-test evaluation.

Secondary hypotheses

Additional hypotheses tested alongside the main hypothesis within an empirical study.

Aetiology and mechanisms questions

Mental health research questions investigating how and why mental health problems arise and develop, using neuroscience, psychological, and epidemiological approaches.

Treatment research questions

Mental health research questions focused on developing and testing interventions to prevent or alleviate mental health problems through clinical trials and evaluations.

Experiences research questions

Mental health research questions exploring what it is like to live with a mental health problem in various contexts and examining the impact of societal responses through qualitative research and patient and public involvement (PPI).

Core Research Principles module philosophy

The perspective that neuroscience, psychological, and social approaches are all valid and must be integrated in mental health research.

Replication studies

Studies repeating previous investigations to verify findings, particularly valuable when applying improved methodology or evaluating different population groups.

Incremental progress

The gradual process of developing scientific evidence where most new research questions form the logical next step or natural continuation of an existing line of work.

Stakeholders (in research)

Key parties including service users, carers, clinicians, domain experts, and policy makers who assess whether a proposed research topic is interesting and important.

Stage of evidence appropriateness

The requirement that a research question matches the current maturity of field evidence rather than jumping prematurely to large-scale trials for untested interventions.