title: Getting started in research: research questions, supervisors and literature reviews.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research can seem daunting, especially for trainees and early career researchers. This paper focuses on how to formulate and begin a research project such as the RANZCP Scholarly Project.
  
  
  METHODS
  We outline an approach to framing a research question, developing theses and hypotheses, choosing a supervisor and conducting a literature review.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Through systematic planning early career researchers and other clinicians can plan and conduct research suitable for the Scholarly Project or other research activity.
authors.affiliation: Committee for Research, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), Melbourne, VICAustralia Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSWStaff Specialist, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Wollongong, NSW, Australia mmacfarlane1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.affiliation: Committee for Research, RANZCP, Melbourne, VICSchool of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kisely
authors.affiliation: Committee for Research, RANZCP, Melbourne, VICAcademic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, Saint Vincent's Health, Saint George's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loi
authors.affiliation: Committee for Research, RANZCP, Melbourne, VICAcademic Unit of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Medical School, Australian National University, Garran, ACTMental Health Service ACT Health Directorate, Canberra Hospital, Garran, ACT, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeffrey C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Looi
authors.affiliation: Committee for Research, RANZCP, Wellington, New ZealandFaculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Werry Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merry
authors.affiliation: Committee for Research, RANZCP, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Committee for Research, RANZCP, Melbourne, VICSchool of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WAStaff Specialist, South Metropolitan Area Health Service, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Power
authors.affiliation: Committee for Research, RANZCP, Melbourne, VICSchool of Medicine, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLDStaff Specialist, Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siskind
authors.affiliation: Committee for Research, RANZCP, Melbourne, VICSchool of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, WA Centre for Mental Health Policy Research, University of Western Australia, Crawley WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Committee for Research, RANZCP, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D012108:Research Personnel; D012196:Review Literature as Topic
keywords: educational material; hypothesis; literature review; planning; qualitative research; quantitative research; research methods; research project structure; research steps; scholarly project