title: Research process in the health sciences: a focus on methods.
abstract: Research in the health sciences is becoming increasingly challenging as data and methods advance in complexity. This article was written to provide an overview of the research process for complex and intricate projects, with a focus on methods. The insights regarding structuring and managing research projects are intended to guide researchers through all phases of the research process. Our key suggestions include the following: (1) conceptual and methodological complexity must be balanced, (2) skilled project managers and statisticians are needed, and can be rewarded for their contributions to projects in part through authorship, and (3) grants involving multiple investigators present problems related in part to the abstruseness of integrated methods and so require special solutions for effective management. Overall, we conclude that researchers are rewarded in a variety of ways when they remain focused on the original study aims, keep methods simple, utilize skilled staff, and engage in strategic planning.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor 48109-0482, USA. cathya@umich.edu
authors.forename: Cathy L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Antonakos
authors.forename: Anamaria S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kazanis
mesh_terms: D001319:Authorship; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017712:Peer Review, Research; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors