Types of research studies: Part I - Introduction to health research

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An introduction to health research

In my last piece, I wrote about the important role health research plays in advancing scientific discoveries. We often hear about the latest health research, but what does this mean and how is research done? This three-part educational series will describe what research is and offer an overview of different types of research studies and designs, including observational and interventional studies.

Health research — what is it and why do we do it?

Research is defined by federal regulations as a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. It involves planning and using scientific methods to answer a question (1). The information learned is meant to contribute to what is already known and found to be true about the research topic or apply more broadly to other populations or contexts beyond what was studied (2). The primary goal of research is to produce new knowledge, confirm, or deepen our understanding of a topic. Researchers may choose different ways to design studies based on the topic and the question they are trying to answer.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), clinical research aims to advance medical knowledge and contribute toward finding new and better ways to detect, diagnose, treat, and prevent disease in people (3).

There are many different types of clinical research studies. Some studies can provide enough evidence to show a cause-and-effect relationship, meaning that something (like a new medication) causes another thing (like recovering from an illness) to happen.

Research studies may be:

1. Observational: The researcher “observes” and does not try to change or influence what happens (the outcome), or
2. Interventional: The researcher tests an intervention (such as a medication or treatment) and measures and monitors the changes and the effects that the intervention makes.

Join me for Part II where I’ll discuss different types of Observational Studies.

References:

1. Definitions. ORI Introduction to RCR: Chapter 3. The Protection of Human Subjects. The Office of Research Integrity. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://ori.hhs.gov/content/chapter-3-The-Protection-of-Human-Subjects-Definitions
2. The Office of Research Integrity. Definitions. https://ori.hhs.gov/content/chapter-3-The-Protection-of-Human-Subjects-Definitions
3. NIH Clinical Research Trials and You. The National Institutes of Health. https://www.nih.gov/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you/basics

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!