The Beginner’s Guide to Research Studies provides an overview of key steps in developing, conducting, analyzing, and reporting a research study. The guide is designed to help investigators and research teams move from an initial idea to a focused research question, feasible study design, structured protocol, appropriate review process, data management plan, statistical analysis strategy, and final abstract or manuscript.
Use this guide as a starting point for planning your study and identifying questions to discuss with collaborators, mentors, and CSTAT statisticians. Engaging statistical and research support early can help prevent common problems with study design, bias, missing data, inadequate sample size, and analysis plans that do not align with the research question.