Getting started in research

Contents:

What is research?
Why do research?
Where to go for advice about getting into research
Primary Care Researcher Bursary Scheme 2010/11
Other schemes for new researchers

What is research?

“1.10 Research can be defined as the attempt to derive generalisable new knowledge by addressing clearly defined questions with systematic and rigorous methods. This document sets out the responsibilities and standards that apply to work managed within the formal research context. Other documents on quality and governance in the NHS and social care set out standards and systems for assuring the quality of innovative work in non-research contexts.”

Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care, Second edition, 2005

Many other activities are not research even though they use similar methodologies. In that case, they do not require assessment by a research ethics committee or formal approval within the Research Governance Framework, however Trusts may have their own processes for approval of these types of project.

Guidance is available from the national research ethics service (NRES) and the NHS R&D Forum to help you distinguish between research, audit and service evaluation (please see links below).

If having considered the published guidance you are unsure whether your project should be classified as research, please seek advice from the R&D office in the first instance.

Links:
Defining Research (pdf, 109KB)
Further guidance on categorising projects is available from the NHS R&D Forum.

Why do research?

Well-designed and well-executed research generates data that are robust, reliable and relevant to the needs of the NHS, its staff and its patients.

For NHS staff, research provides evidence that can inform the development of their practice. This is true whether or not they are directly involved in carrying out the research, as the information that comes from research should be applicable across the NHS - not just locally in the region in which it was carried out. To be directly involved in research provides a rich professional development opportunity for staff that enriches their practice at all levels.

Patients who become involved in research have been shown to benefit from being in a clinical trial, even if they are in the placebo arm, where they are not receiving the treatment under study. There is also the benefit of early access to novel therapies when they are recruited into research studies. Even if the research does not involve a treatment as such, but is an exploration of patient experience, for example, patients feel that there is a distinct benefit to them.

The data that come from research are used to inform commissioning decisions about service development, and to allow health professionals and patients to make informed choices about effective and appropriate treatments.

Where to go for advice about getting into research

If you think that you would like to develop your own research project, then the Research Facilitator within the R&D team is ready to help you with advice on how to get started, where to apply for money and how to make the best academic links to build a strong research team.

Primary Care Researcher Bursary Scheme 2010/11

A limited number of bursaries are available offering support, both practical and financial, to people working in primary care wishing to develop their research ideas with a view to leading or being part of a team submitting to an eligible funding scheme. These bursaries are currently available for 2010/11, and you can find out more about them here.

Other schemes for new researchers

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) offers a number of fellowships – personal awards – for people who want to make the move into research. Details about the NIHR Fellowships Programme can be found here.