How to find the results of a research study
Have you ever wondered what happens after your participation in a research study ends? Perhaps you are interested in what the research team learned? What did the researchers do with the results of their study and how did they share their findings?
A research volunteer’s journey in a research study often ends when their participation is completed. However, the research team is still busy analyzing study data to learn the answers to their research questions. For example, did the research data show a new medication or treatment being studied worked? Did it work better or worse in different groups and people?
How research findings are shared
After a study’s results are finalized, research teams often write up their results in a paper called a scientific manuscript that is published in a peer-reviewed journal. These are scholarly, scientific journals that publish papers written and reviewed by experts in a field of study. Publishing in scientific journals is common in academic research and is the main way that researchers share their findings with other researchers and clinicians.
Papers that are submitted to these types of journals undergo a review process called ‘peer-review’. This means they are read and critiqued by their peers (others in their professional field of study or research who would have expertise related to the types of study findings). This review usually results in one of three outcomes where a paper is:
- Accepted without edits (this is rare!),
- Accepted but edits or extra analyses are needed, or
- Rejected (meaning its unsuitable for the journal but the researcher can submit elsewhere).
This peer review process is important as it helps maintain integrity of the science and ensures the publication of high-quality studies with valid interpretations of results. However it’s important to note, that just because a study is published, doesn’t mean it’s of high scientific quality. We must still be critical and savvy when reading and interpreting the results of a research study.
Where to find the results of a research study
While the scientific research community is used to accessing trial results through journals, its often less familiar to the public, including research participants. The good news is that scientific manuscripts can often be found online. There are also other resources you can use to learn more about the results of a research study. These include:
Online peer reviewed journals: Each scientific journal has their own focus and publishes papers within a specific scope or topic. Most journals have publications that can be accessed online. You can search for articles that are of interest to you by using free online databases and resources, including:
- PubMed Central
- Google Scholar
- Public Library of Science (PLOS)
- Libraries: Some local libraries may also have limited access to journals. If you are a part of a college or university (or know a college student or employee), you may also have free access to a variety of journals and articles through their library system.
Once you’ve found a research paper, the next step is to learn how to read through it! For more information on how to read a scientific manuscript — click here.
ClinicalTrials.gov is a website and online database of clinical research studies and information about their results. You can use search filters to find the results of research studies that are of interest to you. More tips and guidance on searching for research results in ClinicalTrials.gov can be found here.
ResearchMatch.org is a free online platform that helps connect people interested in learning about research opportunities with researchers who are recruiting for their studies. ResearchMatch makes it easy to find the results of research studies by including a summary of the study results and linking to their publications on the ResearchMatch Results page.
National media sources: Reputable news media sources can also be a good way to find information about recent research, especially studies that have a large influence on public health or are especially novel or impactful.
Study websites: More and more research studies are starting to have an online presence. Some have websites to learn more about the study and may also post their findings for participants and the public to access.
Accessing the findings of research studies can be intimidating, but there are resources out there to help you find the results and make them meaningful for you!
Resources:
- PubMed Central: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
- Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/
- Public Library of Science (PLOS): https://plos.org/
- ClinicalTrials.gov: https://clinicaltrials.gov/find-studies/how-to-search-for-studies-with-results
- ResearchMatch Results: https://www.researchmatch.org/publications/
Additional Reading:
- Cook, SK. Part I: Dissecting a Scientific Research Paper. Aug 2019. https://medium.com/researchmatch/part-i-dissecting-a-scientific-research-paper-23d9c02b3cef
ResearchMatch is here to help educate and empower our volunteers to take part in clinical trials and research studies. This includes understanding how their participation makes a difference and contributes to scientific discoveries. Interested in joining ResearchMatch? Click here to sign-up as a volunteer and be “matched” with research studies that are of interest to you!
