Medical and Healthcare Education: Research

Primary research 

Original research articles that report on and share new research findings..

Examples include: Interviews, focus groups, surveys, observations, experiments.

When identifying primary research look out for:

• a methodology or method which describes the processes involved in undertaking the study
• a description of how the sample was obtained (how were the participants recruited?) 
• the method of data collection (were participants interviewed? were blood samples taken?)
• the analysis of the results
• there will be a literature review that will set out existing knowledge and understanding and is not the sole focus of the article.

This document explains the search process in further detail and is useful for anyone using academic databases for their research:

Secondary Research

Also known as desk research, these articles evaluate and synthesise existing primary research.

Secondary sources are not evidence, but rather commentary on and discussion of evidence.

Examples include:

• Literature reviews
• Systematic reviews
• Meta-analyses​
• Scoping reviews

Grant, M. J. and Booth, A. (2009) ‘A typology of reviews: an analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies’, Health information and libraries journal. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 26(2), pp. 91–108. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x.

Critical Appraisal and evaluating information - for information on critically appraising research and journal articles see the Critical Appraisal Guide.

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research

Quantitative research aims to measure or quantify the subject of the study. Data collection will often be numerical. The sample size in quantitative research tends to be large and there may be statistical anaylsis of the data collected.

Look for results containing numbers, measurements, graphs and surveys with pre-set multiple choice answers.

Qualitative research aims to explore meaning and understanding of what is being studied through looking at experiences. Qualitative research records words rather than numbers and is often descriptive in nature.

Look out for interviews and surveys that asked people to talk about their experiences and explanations of how people felt.

Some research will use a variety of methods such as both qualitative and quantitative elements and is called mixed methods.

SAGE Research Methods Online

SAGE Research Methods is the ultimate methods library with more than 1000 books, reference works, journal articles, and instructional videos by world-leading academics from across the social sciences, including the largest collection of qualitative methods books available online from any scholarly publisher. The site is designed to guide users to the content they need to learn a little or a lot about their method. The Methods Map can help those less familiar with research methods to find the best technique to use in their research. 

More material and books can be found on this Medical Research Resource List.