Clarifying the aims of a research study
From The Embassy of Good Science
ThemesClarifying the aims of a research study
What is this about?
One of the most important steps in informing potential research participants is clearly communicating the aims of the study and ensuring there are no misunderstandings. This has real practical implications. For example, Williams, Irvine, McGinnis, McMurdo & Crombie (2007) surveyed a group of individuals who opted out of a prior cross-sectional study when invited to take part. Although 54% of the individuals contacted refused to participate in the initial study, 61% of this original sample opted to participate in the follow-up study. They identified that the majority of this 61% opted out of the original study due to misunderstandings regarding the research aim and process.
Why is this important?
This is important as a small participant sample may result in delayed publication of the research, an increase in research costs, and sampling bias (Williams et al., 2007).
For whom is this important?
Academic institutionsAcademic staffAdvisors of studentsAll stakeholders in researchBachelor studentsClinical ethics consultantsClinical researchersCollaborating researchersDoctoral studentsEthics committee membersGeneral public
What are the best practices?
Asking participants questions about the study and what they expect from it can reveal gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed. Taking time to ensure a realistic understanding of the study aims and outcomes is essential for the informed consent process and helps prevent participants dropping out.
Natalie Evans, Raquel Ann Borg Cutajar contributed to this theme. Latest contribution was Aug 11, 2022
