How transparent do you find the overa... - Research Opportun...
Research Opportunities
How transparent do you find the overall scientific process, from research initiation to publication?
AnnaHUHealthUnlocked53 VotersPlease select one:
Sorry., this is a nonsense question
how can we know when processes start and what they are about?
Hello there, thank you for your response!
The overall scientific process involves several key stages:
1. Research Initiation: Identify a research question or problem based on observations, existing literature, or gaps in current knowledge. Develop a hypothesis or research objective.
2. Planning and Funding: Design a research plan, including methodology and resources needed. Apply for funding from grants or institutions to support the research.
3. Experimentation and Data Collection: Conduct experiments or studies according to the research plan. Collect data systematically to ensure accuracy and reliability.
4. Data Analysis: Analyze the collected data using appropriate statistical methods or analytical techniques. Interpret the results in the context of the hypothesis or research question.
5. Peer Review and Publication: Write a research paper detailing the methods, results, and conclusions. Submit the paper to a scientific journal. The paper undergoes peer review, where experts evaluate its validity and significance. Based on feedback, the paper may be revised before final acceptance and publication.
6. Dissemination and Application: Once published, the findings are shared with the broader scientific community and the public. This can lead to further research, practical applications, and contributions to the body of scientific knowledge.
I hope that this has been helpful for you, please let me know if you would like any further information.
The public as a whole, doesn't know much about the process unless they've been involved in a trial in some form. As a long time cancer survivor, I have met many who participated in clinical trials and studies so I'm familiar with the process.
Later, opportunities to evaluate studies and recommend a granting organization fund the research (or select a better one) have taught me much more about basic scientific research.
When you already know where to look for the information and get the summary of publication and studies, most of the required information is there as a layman not in the industry I really have no way of knowing what is been research or to have an easy access database where I could look for the information.
For example I was starting to worry about some digestive issues I was having, and I could find summaries of prevalence of IBS in some ethnic populations, but the summary wasn’t explicit enough, especially since it is written in a language that isn’t self defined making some of the conclusions rather obscure. But at the same time, these were not so recent studies and there weren’t any appearance of recent research or pharmaceutical studies to alleviate symptoms, even if they were referred to by other studies.
Also most of the time when you get public information, it is only a summary of the studies, but not the whole publication itself, which means that important information may be locked behind a paywall or a professional only registration.
I've been a participant in a number of studies and workshops with a variety of UK universities and organisations. In each case, before signing the consent form, I've had a written explanation of the purpose of the involvement, what will happen to the data, how I can leave the study, and who to contact if I needed support. I believe there is an NIHR template for the form that should be sent to all intending participants.
There was a modified notification for OurFuture Health that was shorter than that used by universities. However, because some of your metrics were given to you, some people thought it was a health check rather than adding to a UK wide data base.
I have a current case with the PHSO, and found it easy to research the evidence references to support my case. Moving away from medical issues to commenting on a Local Plan, ChatGPT was invaluable to find evidence. Yes, some medical data is behind a professional logon, but 99% of my questions to medical report authors have had helpful replies.
Not sure which “scientific processes” were involved! I do not have a great deal of faith in Our Future Health as we were “randomly selected” to take part twice! And the first voucher I was given for taking part disappeared when I showed it on my phone at the checkout at Waitrose! Not great for someone trying to avoid stress!
Hi Anna. The question can be read as a participant in a research study, or as someone delving into research to understand a medical condition. Some studies use impenetrable language (in one study I had to look up allele). However, the studies where I've been a lived-experience participant, require a 'plain English' explanation in the published report. By that it is meant the reading age of a [fluent] 12 year old. This takes a lot of care as, using AI to produce it can be problematic.
I think it's transparent to an extent. Not completely.
I have been involved in studies and co-authored a couple of papers. The process is long and arduous. However, seems when they need to, like with the COVID crisis, they skipped a lot in a rush to get it out. And now people are paying the price with the issues with the vaccines.
Hi Anna,I participated in a few clinical trials, the most recent study finishing 4 weeks ago.
In Australia, you the participant usually get 5-10 pages of information about approval, ethics, the trial itself, how to complain and how to get a copy of the findings.
I have answered yes to transparency based on my experiences.
Public funded research should be open to all to access.
I would think they would be somewhat transparent with respect to what they are studying and trying to solve, but not totally transparent as its a private company looking to make a profit so some things have to be kept proprietary.
only, in my experience, if you’re actively helping with layman’s views of research papers because you’ve volunteered to help. Otherwise I wouldn’t consider them transparent. If you don’t know where to find information it isn’t really transparent.
Depends on the company and the drug . I can see medication that is urgent like Covid vaccines being different to general research . As for processes and research I feel it would vary depending who you were - maybe a person in a drug trial then the questions would have to be personalised but those just given questionnaires as experts or students then obviously these would be different . Research would have to certain criteria to meet legal / safety requirements but most drugs I have taken have been established / tried / tested but some just didn't suit me . I wonder whether common painkillers would be accepted or whether many drugs - especially those for mental health issues would be allowed and passed for use in 2024.
Reading all the stages it is understandable why only the global giants can afford to go through the stages .