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Summary Research Methodologies Sports Medicine
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- University College London (UCL)
Research Methodology study notes for UCL Sports Medicine. All research methodologies info summarised in one document.
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Lesson 1: Introduction to Research andDevelopment
What is Research and Experimental Development?
Definition
Frascati Manual defines Research and Experimental Development (R&D) as:
Research and experimental development (R&D) comprise creative and systematic
work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge – including knowledge
of humankind, culture and society – and to devise new applications of available
knowledge."
Frascati Manual 2015 © OECD 2015
Core criteria
The R&D activities may be aimed at achieving general or specific objectives. The following
are the five core criteria that must be satisfied before an activity is called a R&D activity. All
the five core criteria must be met at least in principle. The activity must be:
1. novel: aimed at new findings
2. creative: based on original, not obvious, concepts and hypotheses (theories)
3. uncertain: there is uncertainty about the final outcome (or at least about the quantity
of time and resources needed to achieve the outcome)
4. systematic: planned for and budgeted
5. transferable and/or reproducible: aimed at producing results that are transferable
and/or reproducible.
Frascati Manual 2015 © OECD 2015
Why is it important to know whether an activity is research?
It is important to know whether an activity is research because most research activities in
healthcare require ethics approval and/or other regulatory approval. There are some
exemptions of research activities healthcare that do not require ethics approval. This is
covered in detail in the Section on 'Ethics and Other Regulatory Approvals'.
Explanation and examples of core criteria of a research activity
Explanations of the different core criteria of a research activity from the 'Frascati Manual
2015' and some examples of how to identify whether an activity meets the core criterion is
shown in the next few pages.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Research and
Development
,Core criterion of Research: Novelty
Explanation
In the context of healthcare, research projects should pursue entirely new advancements in
knowledge. Novelty could result from a project to reproduce an existing result that finds
potential discrepancies. An experimental development project aimed at creating knowledge
in support of the development of new concepts and ideas related to the design of new
products or processes should be included in R&D.
Examples
For example, a research study comparing two treatments meets the criteria of novelty, since
it is done to pursue new advancements in knowledge. It should be noted that systematic
reviews conducted to help with the need for and the design of new research studies should
be considered research. Similarly, feasibility studies should be considered research.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Research and
Development
Core criterion of Research: Creativity
Explanation
R&D projects must have new concepts or ideas that improve on existing knowledge as
objectives. A human input is inherent to creativity in R&D. As a result, an R&D project
requires the contribution of a researcher (defined in next page). While routine activity is
excluded from R&D, new methods developed to perform common tasks are included under
research activities.
Examples
For example, data processing on its own is not an R&D activity, but development of new
methods for data processing involves new concepts or ideas (that improve on existing
knowledge). Therefore, it is R&D if other criteria are met. Another example is teaching
statistics or assessment of students. These activities on their own are not R&D, but new
methods to teach statistics involve new concepts or ideas (that improve on existing
knowledge). Therefore, these can be considered R&D if other criteria are met. A new
method to fix a problem, developed as part of a project, involves new concepts or ideas (that
improve on existing knowledge); therefore, it can be considered R&D if the outcome is
original and the other criteria are met.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Research and
Development
Core criterion of Research: Uncertainty
Explanation
R&D involves uncertainty. There are many aspects to uncertainty. Uncertainty can be in
outcome, i.e. there should be the possibility of not achieving the intended results. The
uncertainty could be in the costs or in the time taken to achieve the outcome.
Examples
,When two or more treatments are compared in research, this indicates that there is some
uncertainty as to which is better or cheaper. When two or more methods are compared in
achieving the same outcome, the uncertainty may be in the time or costs by the different
methods.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Research and
Development
Core criterion of Research: Systematic
Explanation
R&D is conducted in a planned way, with records kept of both the process followed and the
outcome. Sources of funding for the R&D project should be identified at the planning stage.
Example
For example, in a comparison between treatment A versus treatment B, a research
plan and costs for carrying out the research plan should be available at the beginning
of the project. Any deviations from the research plan should be justified and reported.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Research and
Development
Core criterion of Research: Transferable and/or reproducible
Explanation
An R&D project should result in the potential for the transfer of the new knowledge, ensuring
its use and allowing other researchers to reproduce the results as part of their own R&D
activities. This includes R&D that has negative results, in the case that an initial hypothesis
fails to be confirmed or a product cannot be developed as originally intended. The results
may be protected by secrecy or other means of intellectual property protection, but it is
expected that the process and the results will be recorded for use by other researchers in
the business.
More details about transferability and reproducibility are provided in later lessons. For the
time being, the important information that you have to understand is that it is important to
report the results of the research even if the results are negative.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Research and
Development
Who is a researcher?
Definition
Researchers are professionals engaged in the conception or creation of new knowledge.
They conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models, techniques
instrumentation, software or operational methods.
Tasks performed by researchers
, The researchers perform one of more of the following tasks:
conducting research, experiments, tests and analyses
developing concepts, theories, models, techniques, instrumentation, software and
operational methods
gathering, processing, evaluating, analysing, and interpreting research data
evaluating the results of investigations and experiments and making conclusions
using different techniques and models
applying principles, techniques and processes to develop or improve practical
applications
advising on designing, planning and organising the testing, construction, installation
and maintenance of structures, machines, systems, and their components
providing advice and support to governments, organisations and businesses on the
application of research results
planning, directing and coordinating the R&D activities of institutions that provide
related services to other organisations
preparing scientific papers and reports
managers and administrators engaged in the planning and management of the
scientific and technical aspects of a researcher’s work are also classified as
“researchers”.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Research and
Development
Types of R&D activities
R&D activities can be classified in different ways. Frascati Manual 2015 classifies R&D
activities into:
1. Basic Research
2. Applied Research
3. Experimental Development
It is also useful to classify the R&D according to the knowledge domain in which it is
conducted, for example, natural sciences, engineering and technology, the medical and
health sciences, the agricultural and veterinary sciences, the social sciences, the humanities
and the arts.
Frascati Manual 2015 © OECD 2015
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