Getting started in research: research questions, supervisors and literature reviews

Matthew D Macfarlane; Steve Kisely; Samantha Loi; Jeffrey C Looi; Sally Merry; Stephen Parker; Brian Power; Dan Siskind; Geoff Smith; Stephen Macfarlane

doi:10.1177/1039856214553315

Getting started in research: research questions, supervisors and literature reviews

Australas Psychiatry. 2015 Feb;23(1):8-11. doi: 10.1177/1039856214553315. Epub 2014 Oct 13.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ 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.
² Committee for Research, RANZCP, Melbourne, VICSchool of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
³ 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.
⁴ 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.
⁵ 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.
⁶ Committee for Research, RANZCP, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁷ 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.
⁸ Committee for Research, RANZCP, Melbourne, VICSchool of Medicine, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLDStaff Specialist, Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
⁹ 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.

PMID: 25313291
DOI: 10.1177/1039856214553315

Abstract

Objectives: 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.

Keywords: educational material; hypothesis; literature review; planning; qualitative research; quantitative research; research methods; research project structure; research steps; scholarly project.

MeSH terms

Biomedical Research / methods*
Humans
Mentors*
Psychiatry / education
Psychiatry / methods
Research Personnel*
Review Literature as Topic*