This section provides resources on the different types of research questions and tools for forming a good research question. A research question guides an inquiry to create knowledge, whereas a clinical question guides the search for existing knowledge that can be applied to practice. Your research question might arise from a clinical question.
After skimming the literature, you may find that this area has been well investigated. You might then shift your question and literature search again. The next step will be to further focus your question and consider a pilot and feasibility study to help you refine your main research question for your full-scale research project.
Recommended Resources
- McMaster Resource: Forming Questions – Health Science Library
- Video: Formulating Research Questions – McMaster Program for Faculty Development
- External Resource: Formulating Research questions – Fraser Health Research Toolkit
- Guideline: Guiding Questions to Determine Whether Your Research Requires Ethics Approval – Toronto Metropolitan University
- The purpose of this guideline is to help individuals determine whether their project requires Research Ethics Board (REB) review and approval or whether it is exempted under one of the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS 2) exemptions. This guideline seeks to help identify differences between (1) research projects, (2) program evaluations, (3) quality improvement studies, (4) usability studies, and (5) creative practices
Feasibility and Pilot Studies
Pilot studies are an excellent way to assess the feasibility of a large, expensive full-scale study by providing preliminary evidence on the clinical efficacy of a drug or intervention. Conducting a pilot study prior to the main study can enhance the likelihood of success of the main study and avoid unsuccessful ones.
- Presentation: Moving your research from idea to action: A hands-on exercise to map out a pilot study by Drs. Dee Mangin and Michelle Howard, Spring Retreat [Slides | Video]
- Journal Article: Thabane, L., Ma, J., Chu, R., Cheng, J., Ismaila, A., Rios, L. P., … & Goldsmith, C. H. (2010). A tutorial on pilot studies: the what, why and how. BMC medical research methodology, 10(1), 1-10.
Quality Improvement Studies
- Presentation: QI in Primary Care — When, how, and how is it different from research? by Drs. Dale Guenter and Kathryn Cottrell [Video | Slides]
- Website: Health Quality Ontario, Ontario Health
- Website: Quality, service improvement and redesign (QSIR), NHS England
- Learning Module: Inquire — Integrated Quality Improvement in Residency, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University
Implementation and Evaluation
- Presentation: Exploring Evaluation by Ms. Rachel Harris [Slides]
- Guide: A guide to evaluation in health research, Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)
- Presentation: Implementation Science in Family Medicine by Drs. Henry Siu and Dee Mangin [Video]
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