Steps & The Research Process

literature review

A practical piece of writing that builds an evidence-based story

‒ A precursor to planned research/project design OR

‒ An introduction to an executed study/manuscript

‒ Identifies theory and published research; justifies research

• Involves searching relevant electronic databases using keywords & synthesizing the findings most relevant to research topic

conducting a literature review

• Identify the problem/topic

• Identify the types of information 

- Time frame of published literature

- Background literature (e.g., when a test was created)

- Foreground literature (e.g., current treatments for a conditon)

- Grey literature

ready reference searching

specifc, usually resolved through a closed-ended search process (e.g., prevalence data)

subject searching

iteratve & ongoing informaton-seeking process that involves successive steps to arrive at informaton that is a close-as-possible match to the informaton being sought

ex. using keywords and refining them

information queries

words, phrases entered into the interface of information-retrieval tools

ex. PubMed

browsing 

structured or serendipitous; preplanned approach or an inductive, evolving approach

querying

text-phrase matching, keyword matching, concept expansion, concept contraction

manual search

pulling the original reference from a text

(citation searching) 

search considerations

• Scope & depth of information needs

• Availability of informaton resources

• Characteristcs of the informaton process

• Individual’s informaton-retrieval skills

• Available time

• Resources to cover costs

research proposal

• Written plan

• Organizes research process

• Details background literature supportng need & rationale for research question

• Describes antcipated methods to address the research question

‒ Includes data management plan

• Describes anticipated logistcs & resources for conduct of the study

‒ Resources include monetary, human, equipment, etc

ethical research 

• Protect subjects from harm

• Ensure subjects’ eforts & any risks involved are warranted by the study's importance

• Ensure subjects freely give informed consent to partcipate

• Institutional Review Board (IRB)