Continuing Professional Development
Research Methodology Basics
Study design, sampling, bias, basic biostatistics and ethics committee requirements for clinician-researchers.
- track
- Continuing Professional Development
- format
- Self-paced
What this module covers
Study design, sampling, bias, basic biostatistics and ethics committee requirements for clinician-researchers.
This is a self-paced training module that maps to NMC CPD framework - Category 3 (research and academics). It is delivered inside the MedNext app so clinicians and hospital staff can work through it between shifts, with no live sessions or fixed deadlines.
What it covers in detail
Research Methodology Basics
- Common study designs (cross-sectional, case-control, cohort and randomised controlled trial) and when each is appropriate.
- Sampling methods, sample-size logic and the sources of bias that threaten validity.
- Core biostatistics: types of data, common tests, p-values and confidence intervals, in plain terms.
- Research ethics: the role of the Institutional Ethics Committee, informed consent for research, and integrity in reporting.
- Structuring a research question and protocol and reporting results honestly.
Who should complete this, and why
Postgraduate trainees who must complete a thesis or dissertation, and any clinician who conducts, supervises or reviews research, need a working grasp of methodology. The NMC CPD framework includes research and academics as an area of professional development, and Institutional Ethics Committee approval is a prerequisite for research on human participants.
What you will be able to do after this module
On completion you should be able to
- Choose an appropriate study design for a research question.
- Recognise common biases and how design controls them.
- Interpret basic biostatistical results correctly.
- Explain the ethics-committee and consent requirements for human research.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need ethics committee approval for a small student study?
Research involving human participants, their data or their samples generally requires prior approval from a registered Institutional Ethics Committee, regardless of the study's size. This is both an ethical and a regulatory requirement.
Which study design gives the strongest evidence for a treatment?
A well-conducted randomised controlled trial sits at the top of the hierarchy for evaluating a treatment, because randomisation balances known and unknown confounders. Observational designs are valuable but more prone to bias.
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Learn moreStart Research Methodology Basics in the MedNext app
Explore clinician-written learning resources, structured revision and practice across the MedNext platform.
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