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INTRODUCTION

ACP requires communication between patients, their family or other decision-makers, and their health care providers and is best done with consideration of the patient’s relationships and culture, which will then drive specific medical treatment decisions that can be recorded in an advance directive (AD). ACP may include the completion of an AD, although this is not the primary intent of ACP discussions. Rather, the intent of ACP is to ensure that patients receive care that is aligned with their goals and values.

This topic will discuss ACP and ADs. Issues related to other legal aspects and the ethical issues that arise in palliative care, as well as a practical approach to discussing goals of care, are covered separately. (See "Ethical issues in palliative care" and "Legal aspects in palliative and end-of-life care in the United States" and "Discussing goals of care" .)

INTERNATIONAL APPLICABILITY

ADVANCE CARE PLANNING

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• Clinical Trials: What Patients Need to Know

Basics About Clinical Trials

What are clinical trials.

Clinical trials are research studies in which people volunteer to help find answers to specific health questions. When carefully conducted, they are the safest and fastest way to find new treatments and ways to improve health.

Clinical trials are conducted according to a plan, called a protocol, which describes:

• the types of patients who may enter the study
• the schedules of tests and procedures
• the drugs involved
• the dosages, or amount of the drug
• the length of the study
• what the researchers hope to learn from the study.

Volunteers who participate in the study must agree to the rules and terms outlined in the protocol. Similarly, researchers, doctors, and other health professionals who manage the clinical trials must follow strict rules set by the FDA. These rules make sure that those who agree to participate are treated as safely as possible.

Learn more about the basics of clinical trial participation, read first hand experiences from actual clinical trial volunteers, and see explanations from researchers at the NIH Clinical Research Trials and You Web site.

Why are clinical trials done?

Clinical trials are conducted for many reasons:

• to determine whether a new drug or device is safe and effective for people to use.
• to study different ways to use standard treatments or current, approved treatments so that they will be more effective, easier to use, or decrease certain side effects.
• to learn how to safely use a treatment in a population for which the treatment was not previously tested, such as children.

Who should consider clinical trials and why?

Some people participate in clinical trials because none of the standard (approved) treatment options have worked, or they are unable to tolerate certain side effects. Clinical trials provide another option when standard therapy has failed. Others participate in trials because they want to contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge.

Ensuring people from diverse backgrounds join clinical trials is key to advancing health equity. Participants in clinical trials should represent the patients that will use the medical products. This is often not the case—people from racial and ethnic minority and other diverse groups are underrepresented in clinical research. This is a concern because people of different ages, races, and ethnicities may react differently to certain medical products. Learn more about the clinical trial diversity initiative from the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity.

All clinical trials have guidelines, called eligibility criteria, about who can participate. The criteria are based on such factors as age, sex, type and stage of disease, previous treatment history, and other medical conditions. This helps to reduce the variation within the study and to ensure that the researchers will be able to answer the questions they plan to study. Therefore, not everyone who applies for a clinical trial will be accepted.

It is important to test drugs and medical products in the people they are meant to help. It is also important to conduct research in a variety of people, because different people may respond differently to treatments.  FDA seeks to ensure that people of different ages, races, ethnic groups, and genders are included in clinical trials. Learn more about FDA’s efforts to increase diversity in clinical trials .

Where are clinical trials conducted?

Clinical trials can be sponsored by organizations (such as a pharmaceutical company), Federal offices and agencies (such as the National Institutes of Health or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), or individuals (such as doctors or health care providers). The sponsor determines the location(s) of the trials, which are usually conducted at universities, medical centers, clinics, hospitals, and other Federally or industry-funded research sites.

Are clinical trials safe?

FDA works to protect participants in clinical trials and to ensure that people have reliable information before deciding whether to join a clinical trial. The Federal government has regulations and guidelines for clinical research to protect participants from unreasonable risks. Although efforts are made to control the risks to participants, some may be unavoidable because we are still learning more about the medical treatments in the study.

The government requires researchers to give prospective participants complete and accurate information about what will happen during the trial. Before joining a particular study, you will be given an informed consent document that describes your rights as a participant, as well as details about the study, including potential risks. Signing it indicates that you understand that the trial is research and that you may leave at any time. The informed consent is part of the process that makes sure you understand the known risks associated with the study.

What should I think about before joining a clinical trial?

Before joining a clinical trial, it is important to learn as much as possible. Discuss your questions and concerns with members of the health care team conducting the trial. Also, discuss the trial with your health care provider to determine whether or not the trial is a good option based on your current treatment. Be sure you understand:

• what happens during the trial
• the type of health care you will receive
• any related costs once you are enrolled in the trial
• the benefits and risks associated with participating. 

What is FDA’s role in approving new drugs and medical treatments?

FDA makes sure medical treatments are safe and effective for people to use. We do not develop new therapies or conduct clinical trials. Rather, we oversee the people who do. FDA staff meet with researchers and perform inspections of clinical trial study sites to protect the rights of patients and to verify the quality and integrity of the data.

Learn more about the Drug Development Process .

Where can I find clinical trials?

One good way to find out if there are any clinical trials that might help you is to ask your doctor. Other sources of information include:

• FDA Clinical Trials Search. Search a database of Federally and privately supported studies available through clinicaltrials.gov. Learn about each trial’s purpose, who can participate, locations, and who to contact for more information.
• Clinicaltrials.gov. Conduct more advanced searches
• National Cancer Institute or call 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237). Learn about clinical trials for people with cancer.
• AIDS Clinical Trials and Information Services (ACTIS) or call 1–800–TRIALS–A (1–800–874–2572). Locate clinical trials for people with HIV.
• AIDSinfo. Search a database of HIV/AIDS trials, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine.

What is a placebo and how is it related to clinical trials?

A placebo is a pill, liquid, or powder that has no treatment value. It is often called a sugar pill. In clinical trials, experimental drugs are often compared with placebos to evaluate the treatment’s effectiveness.

Is there a chance I might get a placebo?

In clinical trials that include placebos, quite often neither patients nor their doctors know who is receiving the placebo and how is being treated with the experimental drug. Many cancer clinical trials, as well as trials for other serious and life-threatening conditions, do not include placebo control groups. In these cases, all participants receive the experimental drug. Ask the trial coordinator whether there is a chance you may get a placebo rather than the experimental drug. Then, talk with your doctor about what is best for you.

How do I find out what Phase a drug is in as part of the clinical trial?

Talk to the clinical trial coordinator to find out which phase the clinical trial is in. Learn more about the different clinical trial phases and whether they are right for you.

What happens to drugs that don't make it out of clinical trials?

Most drugs that undergo preclinical (animal) research never even make it to human testing and review by the FDA. The drug developers go back to begin the development process using what they learned during with their preclinical research. Learn more about drug development .

Advanced research methods: Overview

• Reading scholarly research

This guide is a  general introduction  to scholarly inquiry and the use of advanced research methods, scroll down for definitions, examples and helpful resources.

Understanding Formal Research

Research is defined as the systematic investigation of a subject in order to find something new.

There are many different Advanced Research Methods which are used to conduct research . These methods include:

• Originating with a question or problem
• Starting with a clear articulation of a goal
• Creating a specific plan for proceeding
• Dividing the problem into smaller more manageable sub-problems
• Leading with the specific research problem, question, or hypothesis
• Explaining the assumptions the researcher is starting with
• The collection & interpretation of data
• Results in further questions and new tangents for further research

[Adapted from: Leedy, Paul D, Jeanne E. Ormrod, and Laura R. Johnson.  Practical Research: Planning and Design . Ninth edition, Pearson, 2010. ]

Qualitative versus Quantitative

Quantitative studies are best suited for answering questions that require 'count-able' data, quantities that are often easy to translate into a graph.

For example: "How many times an hour do 22 to 32 year olds check their cell-phone?"

Quantitative: think "describe" ... precise measurements - specific data variables - large sample size - randomly selected - Objective - generalisable to larger populations - Confirmatory : the researcher expects to prove or disprove a hypothesis - Output = Statistical report with clear categories of data

Quantitative Methods: surveys, questionnaires, experiments, analyzing existing data

Qualitative studies are best suited for investigating qualities of a specific issue, often human behaviours or motivations which cannot be easily transformed in to a graph. 

For example: "Why do 22 to 32 year olds prefer social media app A over social media app B." or “what motivates 22 to 32 year olds to stop using a social media platform or app?”

Qualitative: think "discover" ...open-ended responses - non-specific data - small sample size - not randomly selected - Subjective - situational or highly specific information - Exploratory : the researcher is looking for connections, patterns or themes  Output = narrative and contextual reporting or summaries of responses. 

Qualitative Methods: Interviews, case studies, action research, historical research, participant observer, phenomenology and philosophical / intellectual analysis

Mixed Method studies are best suited for highly complex questions: for example the number of times a specific  behaviour is observed, under what conditions.

The research question for a mixed methods study could be " Are people who check their phone more than average also more likely to discard social media apps?”

Sampling and Sample types

You must choose a sample that is likely to help answer your research question!

Sample types: the many diverse possible sources of data that researchers choose from.

Sampling: the process of choosing which source of data to focus on.

Example: Choosing between an online survey , or interviewing 22 to 32 year olds , to discover which social media apps they have used and then discarded, or used and kept, and what they think motivated those decisions? The researcher could also contact the App creators for any demographic or usage statistics that they are willing to provide.

Validity and Reliability

Validity means that your methods measure what you actually set out to measure and that the results you gain from your methods can be trusted.

Reliability means that a different researcher could reproduce your methods - using similar conditions/ same variables - and see the same results as you did or draw similar conclusions.

If you chose to use a  question with   Likert scale  responses on your survey about social media apps:

“How likely are you to Keep Social media app 'A3' on your mobile device?”

Answer options: 1. “very likely” 2. “somewhat likely” 3. Neutral    4. “somewhat unlikely” 5. “very unlikely”

How can you guarantee that the people taking the survey will interpret those categories in the way you meant them?  Perhaps you could change the question to something more concrete and less open to interpretation.

"How long did you use social media app 'A3' on your Mobile device before deleting it?"

A. 5 days or less.      B. 1 -2 weeks      C.   1 - 2 months        D. 3 to 6 months      E. 7 months or longer.

Definition of Likert Scale: "A method of ascribing quantitative value to qualitative data, to make it amenable to statistical analysis. A numerical value is assigned to each potential choice and a mean figure for all the responses is computed at the end of the evaluation or survey."   <Definition from: Business Dictionary >

VIDEO Adv Research Methods

Advanced Research Methods

Before you get started ⇒ think about the questions below, and keep them in mind as you work on your project.

• What type of new knowledge are you seeking?
• Will your research answer a clearly defined question or fill a specific information gap?
• Have you considered how each method might impact your results?
• Are you certain that the methods you have chosen are valid and reliable?

Remember: 

• Your method should be directly related to the nature of the answers you are seeking.
• Each research method requires unique measures of validity
• Tutorial: How to Read Scholarly Materials (2019 update)
• Video: How to Read Scholarly Materials
• Reading Scholarly Research - Camosun
• Conducting a Literature Review - UToronto
• Research methods and statistics in psychology
• Essentials of business research methods
• A concise introduction to mixed methods research

Examples & more resources

• RADAR Framework - Loyola Marymount University Rationale - Authority - Date - Accuracy - Relevance
• Writing a Research Proposal - UCLA
• "Mixed Methods" Chap 7 of Leedy & Ormond's Practical Research
• Sample Qualitative Study (UBC ~ Health Research)
• Sample Mixed Methods study (Undergrad UBC)

Evaluating sources

• Evaluating the Evidence:Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing (East Carolina University)
• Evidence Based Medicine 'Evidence Pyramid' (UToronto)

Resources from other colleges

• Research Questions - the good and the not so good. (Prezi)
• Key Elements of the Research Proposal
• Tips for Reading scholarly research (AET Guide)
• UCLA Guide to Advanced Research Methods
• The Four Types of Data
• NCRM Podcasts Podcasts from the National Centre for Research Methods (UK)
• Duke University Qualitative Methods Guide
• Duke University Research Data Management

BC Campus Open Textbooks

Find more Open Access Textbooks at:

• BC Open Campus
• Principles of Sociological Inquiry: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
• Research Methods in Psychology
• Communication Theory

Ask a librarian

Need help with your research? Use AskAway, a chat-based library help service.

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• Last Updated: May 9, 2022 11:07 AM
• URL: https://camosun.libguides.com/advanced_research

GENERAL | October 15, 2020

19 Evidence-Based Benefits of Advance Care Planning

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Advance care planning (ACP) is an ongoing conversation that involves shared decision making to clarify and document – through an advance directive – an individual’s wishes, preferences, and goals regarding future medical care. This comprehensive process is critically important to ensuring patients receive the medical care they want in the event they lose the capacity to make their own decisions. Although advance care planning and completion of an advance directive can bridge the gap between the medical care patients want and the care they receive, a recent study found that two-thirds of U.S. adults do not have an advance directive .

Not only does ACP enable patients and their families to make informed healthcare decisions, it also supports the delivery of high quality care and more effective utilization of healthcare services. Studies have also shown that advance care planning improves quality of care and patient outcomes.

Here are nineteen evidence-based benefits of ACP for healthcare systems, healthcare professionals, patients, and their families:

• Enables healthcare professionals to conduct structured, meaningful conversations with patients about their wishes and preferences regarding treatment goals, preferences, and location of care 1
• Promotes patient-centered care by focusing on the patients’ personal preferences about their medical care and treatments 2
• Helps ensure that patients receive care that is consistent with their preferences 3
• Raises the likelihood that healthcare providers and families understand and comply with a patient’s preferences for medical care when the patient lacks decision-making capacity 4 , 5
• Increases the probability that patients with life-limiting illnesses can die in their preferred place, such as their home 6
• Allows healthcare professionals and caregivers to proactively arrange for patients near end of life to remain at home, in a nursing home, or in a hospice facility rather than going to a hospital 6 , 7
• Reduces the decisional burden of families as to whether they are making decisions that are consistent with the preferences of a loved one 3
• Improves the bereavement experience of families by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression after a loved one’s death 8 , 9
• Enhances families’ satisfaction with end-of-life care and understanding of what to expect during a loved one’s dying process 10 , 11
• May reduce moral distress among critical care nurses 12
• Positively impacts quality of life and end-of-life care by preventing unwanted hospitalizations and increasing the utilization of palliative and hospice services 13 , 11
• Diminishes the use of aggressive or intensive treatments at the end of life and reduces the number and/or length of hospital admissions 8 , 14 , 11
• Decreases in-hospital and intensive care unit deaths 13
• Reduces the cost of end-of-life care without increasing mortality 15 , 11
• Promotes higher completion rates of advance directives 5 , 10
• Boosts the effectiveness of meeting patients’ end-of-life wishes over written documents alone 13
• Improves end-of-life care for individuals with dementia by allowing them to express their care preferences before cognitive function deteriorates to the point they are unable to make their own medical decisions 16
• Improves outcomes and patient experience while reducing health-related costs for high-risk, high-needs patients 17
• Improves population health as a result of increased goal-concordant care 18

Is your healthcare organization interested in implementing or improving your advance care planning initiative? We can help! The efficacy of ACP Decision’s extensive advance care planning video library has been proven in over 20 clinical trials involving over thousands of people from diverse patient populations in various clinical settings. Contact us today to get started!

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Planning Your Research

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FLEET LIBRARY | Research Guides

Rhode island school of design, create a research plan: research plan.

• Research Plan
• Literature Review
• Ulrich's Global Serials Directory
• Related Guides

A research plan is a framework that shows how you intend to approach your topic. The plan can take many forms: a written outline, a narrative, a visual/concept map or timeline. It's a document that will change and develop as you conduct your research. Components of a research plan

1. Research conceptualization - introduces your research question

2. Research methodology - describes your approach to the research question

3. Literature review, critical evaluation and synthesis - systematic approach to locating,

    reviewing and evaluating the work (text, exhibitions, critiques, etc) relating to your topic

4. Communication - geared toward an intended audience, shows evidence of your inquiry

Research conceptualization refers to the ability to identify specific research questions, problems or opportunities that are worthy of inquiry. Research conceptualization also includes the skills and discipline that go beyond the initial moment of conception, and which enable the researcher to formulate and develop an idea into something researchable ( Newbury 373).

Research methodology refers to the knowledge and skills required to select and apply appropriate methods to carry through the research project ( Newbury 374) .

Method describes a single mode of proceeding; methodology describes the overall process.

Method - a way of doing anything especially according to a defined and regular plan; a mode of procedure in any activity

Methodology - the study of the direction and implications of empirical research, or the sustainability of techniques employed in it; a method or body of methods used in a particular field of study or activity *Browse a list of research methodology books  or this guide on Art & Design Research

Literature Review, critical evaluation & synthesis

A literature review is a systematic approach to locating, reviewing, and evaluating the published work and work in progress of scholars, researchers, and practitioners on a given topic.

Critical evaluation and synthesis is the ability to handle (or process) existing sources. It includes knowledge of the sources of literature and contextual research field within which the person is working ( Newbury 373).

Literature reviews are done for many reasons and situations. Here's a short list:

Sources to consult while conducting a literature review:

Online catalogs of local, regional, national, and special libraries

meta-catalogs such as worldcat , Art Discovery Group , europeana , world digital library or RIBA

subject-specific online article databases (such as the Avery Index, JSTOR, Project Muse)

digital institutional repositories such as Digital Commons @RISD ; see Registry of Open Access Repositories

Open Access Resources recommended by RISD Research LIbrarians

works cited in scholarly books and articles

print bibliographies

the internet-locate major nonprofit, research institutes, museum, university, and government websites

search google scholar to locate grey literature & referenced citations

trade and scholarly publishers

fellow scholars and peers

Communication                              

Communication refers to the ability to

• structure a coherent line of inquiry
• communicate your findings to your intended audience
• make skilled use of visual material to express ideas for presentations, writing, and the creation of exhibitions ( Newbury 374)

Research plan framework: Newbury, Darren. "Research Training in the Creative Arts and Design." The Routledge Companion to Research in the Arts . Ed. Michael Biggs and Henrik Karlsson. New York: Routledge, 2010. 368-87. Print.

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• Last Updated: Sep 20, 2023 5:05 PM
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How to write a research plan: Step-by-step guide

Last updated

30 January 2024

Reviewed by

Today’s businesses and institutions rely on data and analytics to inform their product and service decisions. These metrics influence how organizations stay competitive and inspire innovation. However, gathering data and insights requires carefully constructed research, and every research project needs a roadmap. This is where a research plan comes into play.

There’s general research planning; then there’s an official, well-executed research plan. Whatever data-driven research project you’re gearing up for, the research plan will be your framework for execution. The plan should also be detailed and thorough, with a diligent set of criteria to formulate your research efforts. Not including these key elements in your plan can be just as harmful as having no plan at all.

Read this step-by-step guide for writing a detailed research plan that can apply to any project, whether it’s scientific, educational, or business-related.

• What is a research plan?

A research plan is a documented overview of a project in its entirety, from end to end. It details the research efforts, participants, and methods needed, along with any anticipated results. It also outlines the project’s goals and mission, creating layers of steps to achieve those goals within a specified timeline.

Without a research plan, you and your team are flying blind, potentially wasting time and resources to pursue research without structured guidance.

The principal investigator, or PI, is responsible for facilitating the research oversight. They will create the research plan and inform team members and stakeholders of every detail relating to the project. The PI will also use the research plan to inform decision-making throughout the project.

• Why do you need a research plan?

Create a research plan before starting any official research to maximize every effort in pursuing and collecting the research data. Crucially, the plan will model the activities needed at each phase of the research project.

Like any roadmap, a research plan serves as a valuable tool providing direction for those involved in the project—both internally and externally. It will keep you and your immediate team organized and task-focused while also providing necessary definitions and timelines so you can execute your project initiatives with full understanding and transparency.

External stakeholders appreciate a working research plan because it’s a great communication tool, documenting progress and changing dynamics as they arise. Any participants of your planned research sessions will be informed about the purpose of your study, while the exercises will be based on the key messaging outlined in the official plan.

Here are some of the benefits of creating a research plan document for every project:

Project organization and structure

Well-informed participants

All stakeholders and teams align in support of the project

Clearly defined project definitions and purposes

Distractions are eliminated, prioritizing task focus

Timely management of individual task schedules and roles

Costly reworks are avoided

• What should a research plan include?

The different aspects of your research plan will depend on the nature of the project. However, most official research plan documents will include the core elements below. Each aims to define the problem statement, devising an official plan for seeking a solution.

Specific project goals and individual objectives

Ideal strategies or methods for reaching those goals

Required resources

Descriptions of the target audience, sample sizes, demographics, and scopes

Key performance indicators (KPIs)

Project background

Research and testing support

Preliminary studies and progress reporting mechanisms

Cost estimates and change order processes

Depending on the research project’s size and scope, your research plan could be brief—perhaps only a few pages of documented plans. Alternatively, it could be a fully comprehensive report. Either way, it’s an essential first step in dictating your project’s facilitation in the most efficient and effective way.

• How to write a research plan for your project

When you start writing your research plan, aim to be detailed about each step, requirement, and idea. The more time you spend curating your research plan, the more precise your research execution efforts will be.

Account for every potential scenario, and be sure to address each and every aspect of the research.

Consider following this flow to develop a great research plan for your project:

Define your project’s purpose

Start by defining your project’s purpose. Identify what your project aims to accomplish and what you are researching. Remember to use clear language.

Thinking about the project’s purpose will help you set realistic goals and inform how you divide tasks and assign responsibilities. These individual tasks will be your stepping stones to reach your overarching goal.

Additionally, you’ll want to identify the specific problem, the usability metrics needed, and the intended solutions.

Know the following three things about your project’s purpose before you outline anything else:

What you’re doing

Why you’re doing it

What you expect from it

Identify individual objectives

With your overarching project objectives in place, you can identify any individual goals or steps needed to reach those objectives. Break them down into phases or steps. You can work backward from the project goal and identify every process required to facilitate it.

Be mindful to identify each unique task so that you can assign responsibilities to various team members. At this point in your research plan development, you’ll also want to assign priority to those smaller, more manageable steps and phases that require more immediate or dedicated attention.

Select research methods

Research methods might include any of the following:

User interviews: this is a qualitative research method where researchers engage with participants in one-on-one or group conversations. The aim is to gather insights into their experiences, preferences, and opinions to uncover patterns, trends, and data.

Field studies: this approach allows for a contextual understanding of behaviors, interactions, and processes in real-world settings. It involves the researcher immersing themselves in the field, conducting observations, interviews, or experiments to gather in-depth insights.

Card sorting: participants categorize information by sorting content cards into groups based on their perceived similarities. You might use this process to gain insights into participants’ mental models and preferences when navigating or organizing information on websites, apps, or other systems.

Focus groups: use organized discussions among select groups of participants to provide relevant views and experiences about a particular topic.

Diary studies: ask participants to record their experiences, thoughts, and activities in a diary over a specified period. This method provides a deeper understanding of user experiences, uncovers patterns, and identifies areas for improvement.

Five-second testing: participants are shown a design, such as a web page or interface, for just five seconds. They then answer questions about their initial impressions and recall, allowing you to evaluate the design’s effectiveness.

Surveys: get feedback from participant groups with structured surveys. You can use online forms, telephone interviews, or paper questionnaires to reveal trends, patterns, and correlations.

Tree testing: tree testing involves researching web assets through the lens of findability and navigability. Participants are given a textual representation of the site’s hierarchy (the “tree”) and asked to locate specific information or complete tasks by selecting paths.

Usability testing: ask participants to interact with a product, website, or application to evaluate its ease of use. This method enables you to uncover areas for improvement in digital key feature functionality by observing participants using the product.

Live website testing: research and collect analytics that outlines the design, usability, and performance efficiencies of a website in real time.

There are no limits to the number of research methods you could use within your project. Just make sure your research methods help you determine the following:

What do you plan to do with the research findings?

What decisions will this research inform? How can your stakeholders leverage the research data and results?

Recruit participants and allocate tasks

Next, identify the participants needed to complete the research and the resources required to complete the tasks. Different people will be proficient at different tasks, and having a task allocation plan will allow everything to run smoothly.

Prepare a thorough project summary

Every well-designed research plan will feature a project summary. This official summary will guide your research alongside its communications or messaging. You’ll use the summary while recruiting participants and during stakeholder meetings. It can also be useful when conducting field studies.

Ensure this summary includes all the elements of your research project. Separate the steps into an easily explainable piece of text that includes the following:

An introduction: the message you’ll deliver to participants about the interview, pre-planned questioning, and testing tasks.

Interview questions: prepare questions you intend to ask participants as part of your research study, guiding the sessions from start to finish.

An exit message: draft messaging your teams will use to conclude testing or survey sessions. These should include the next steps and express gratitude for the participant’s time.

Create a realistic timeline

While your project might already have a deadline or a results timeline in place, you’ll need to consider the time needed to execute it effectively.

Realistically outline the time needed to properly execute each supporting phase of research and implementation. And, as you evaluate the necessary schedules, be sure to include additional time for achieving each milestone in case any changes or unexpected delays arise.

For this part of your research plan, you might find it helpful to create visuals to ensure your research team and stakeholders fully understand the information.

Determine how to present your results

A research plan must also describe how you intend to present your results. Depending on the nature of your project and its goals, you might dedicate one team member (the PI) or assume responsibility for communicating the findings yourself.

In this part of the research plan, you’ll articulate how you’ll share the results. Detail any materials you’ll use, such as:

Presentations and slides

A project report booklet

A project findings pamphlet

Documents with key takeaways and statistics

Graphic visuals to support your findings

• Format your research plan

As you create your research plan, you can enjoy a little creative freedom. A plan can assume many forms, so format it how you see fit. Determine the best layout based on your specific project, intended communications, and the preferences of your teams and stakeholders.

Find format inspiration among the following layouts:

Written outlines

Narrative storytelling

Visual mapping

Graphic timelines

Remember, the research plan format you choose will be subject to change and adaptation as your research and findings unfold. However, your final format should ideally outline questions, problems, opportunities, and expectations.

• Research plan example

Imagine you’ve been tasked with finding out how to get more customers to order takeout from an online food delivery platform. The goal is to improve satisfaction and retain existing customers. You set out to discover why more people aren’t ordering and what it is they do want to order or experience. 

You identify the need for a research project that helps you understand what drives customer loyalty. But before you jump in and start calling past customers, you need to develop a research plan—the roadmap that provides focus, clarity, and realistic details to the project.

Here’s an example outline of a research plan you might put together:

Project title

Project members involved in the research plan

Purpose of the project (provide a summary of the research plan’s intent)

Objective 1 (provide a short description for each objective)

Objective 2

Objective 3

Proposed timeline

Audience (detail the group you want to research, such as customers or non-customers)

Budget (how much you think it might cost to do the research)

Risk factors/contingencies (any potential risk factors that may impact the project’s success)

Remember, your research plan doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel—it just needs to fit your project’s unique needs and aims.

Customizing a research plan template

Some companies offer research plan templates to help get you started. However, it may make more sense to develop your own customized plan template. Be sure to include the core elements of a great research plan with your template layout, including the following:

Introductions to participants and stakeholders

Background problems and needs statement

Significance, ethics, and purpose

Research methods, questions, and designs

Preliminary beliefs and expectations

Implications and intended outcomes

Realistic timelines for each phase

Conclusion and presentations

How many pages should a research plan be?

Generally, a research plan can vary in length between 500 to 1,500 words. This is roughly three pages of content. More substantial projects will be 2,000 to 3,500 words, taking up four to seven pages of planning documents.

What is the difference between a research plan and a research proposal?

A research plan is a roadmap to success for research teams. A research proposal, on the other hand, is a dissertation aimed at convincing or earning the support of others. Both are relevant in creating a guide to follow to complete a project goal.

What are the seven steps to developing a research plan?

While each research project is different, it’s best to follow these seven general steps to create your research plan:

Defining the problem

Identifying goals

Choosing research methods

Recruiting participants

Preparing the brief or summary

Establishing task timelines

Defining how you will present the findings

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Advanced Research Methods

• Writing a Research Proposal
• What Is Research?
• Library Research

What Is a Research Proposal?

Reference books.

• Writing the Research Paper
• Presenting the Research Paper

When applying for a research grant or scholarship, or, just before you start a major research project, you may be asked to write a preliminary document that includes basic information about your future research. This is the information that is usually needed in your proposal:

• The topic and goal of the research project.
• The kind of result expected from the research.
• The theory or framework in which the research will be done and presented.
• What kind of methods will be used (statistical, empirical, etc.).
• Short reference on the preliminary scholarship and why your research project is needed; how will it continue/justify/disprove the previous scholarship.
• How much will the research project cost; how will it be budgeted (what for the money will be spent).
• Why is it you who can do this research and not somebody else.

Most agencies that offer scholarships or grants provide information about the required format of the proposal. It may include filling out templates, types of information they need, suggested/maximum length of the proposal, etc.

Research proposal formats vary depending on the size of the planned research, the number of participants, the discipline, the characteristics of the research, etc. The following outline assumes an individual researcher. This is just a SAMPLE; several other ways are equally good and can be successful. If possible, discuss your research proposal with an expert in writing, a professor, your colleague, another student who already wrote successful proposals, etc.

Author, author's affiliation

Introduction:

• Explain the topic and why you chose it. If possible explain your goal/outcome of the research . How much time you need to complete the research?

Previous scholarship:

• Give a brief summary of previous scholarship and explain why your topic and goals are important.
• Relate your planned research to previous scholarship. What will your research add to our knowledge of the topic.

Specific issues to be investigated:

• Break down the main topic into smaller research questions. List them one by one and explain why these questions need to be investigated. Relate them to previous scholarship.
• Include your hypothesis into the descriptions of the detailed research issues if you have one. Explain why it is important to justify your hypothesis.

Methodology:

• This part depends of the methods conducted in the research process. List the methods; explain how the results will be presented; how they will be assessed.
• Explain what kind of results will justify or  disprove your hypothesis. 
• Explain how much money you need.
• Explain the details of the budget (how much you want to spend for what).

Conclusion:

• Describe why your research is important.

References:

• List the sources you have used for writing the research proposal, including a few main citations of the preliminary scholarship.

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• Next: Writing the Research Paper >>
• Last Updated: Jan 4, 2024 12:24 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.ucla.edu/research-methods

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Advance care planning

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You might hear “advance care planning” and think, “I’m not quite ready for that, am I?” But the truth is, advance care planning is simply that. It’s planning, in advance, how to handle certain health care decisions on your behalf that may come up in the future. It should be a natural conversation with loved ones about what’s important to you. You’ll express your preferences and wants as they relate to your health, should you ever become unable to make those decisions for yourself. It’s a way for loved ones to know what to do and how to support your wishes.

What is advance care planning?

The outcome of advance care planning is a legal document known as an advance directive. It’s only used if you’re unable to make your own health care decisions. Creating that document includes conversations around things like: 1

• The types of available life-sustaining treatments (things like intubation , ventilation, artificial nutrition, etc.)
• Your decisions about what types of treatment you would or would not want if you’re diagnosed with a life-limiting illness
• Who you choose to speak on your behalf

Why is it important to consider advance care planning?

Advance care planning is just like anything else you’d do to prepare for an unpredictable event. Think of it like an emergency plan you might have at home in case a storm happens. Your oldest child might be in charge of bringing the dogs inside, another child might be in charge of getting sentimental items to protect, and your spouse might be in charge of getting everyone to a safe room. Each person has a clear job and the whole situation becomes less confusing and stressful. When dealing with an illness, having a plan in place (just like that emergency plan) makes everything a little easier – and it helps provide peace of mind for everyone involved.

What happens if I don't have an advance health care directive?

You might be wondering if you need an advance care directive. The answer is no, but it may help make life easier for your family and friends because it can help reduce stress and confusion during a difficult time. It especially helps those who might be caring for you during an illness. Without an advance care directive, you’ll still get medical treatment. However, health care providers will turn to the people closest to you when it’s time to make decisions about your health. So, if you don’t have your personal preferences communicated and documented, the decisions that are made might not be exactly what you would have wanted. Plus, it could be a lot harder on your family. 2

What are the different kinds of advance health care directives?

Before you make your advance health care directive, decide which one you want. You have 3 to choose from, or you could make them all. They each add their own value in making sure your wishes are met, and that your loved ones know what to do if they need to make decisions for you: 3

• Living Will: A written document that specifies the types of medical treatment you want in certain situations (but doesn’t appoint a single person to be the decision maker). It can be as general or detailed as you’d like, and it may outline your preferences around the use of things like, pain relief, antibiotics, hydration, feeding and ventilators .
• Health Care Power of Attorney/Health Care Proxy: A legal document that assigns another person to make your health care decisions and communicate your wishes. This person has the right to request or refuse treatment on your behalf.
• Durable Power of Attorney: A legal document that names another person in charge of making financial decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to make them yourself.

How do I get started with advance care planning?

The first step to advance care planning is having a conversation with your family and friends about what’s important to you. (And if there's some disagreement, rest assured, that’s normal.) This conversation is your chance to express your wishes and help loved ones understand them. This can include lots of different topics outside health care, like legal, financial and any end-of-life decisions.

Next, consider creating your legal documents (living will, health care proxy, power of attorney). You can also get started by using our advance care planning worksheet . Depending where you live, you may need to have your forms notarized. Keep these documents in a single, safe place. You may also want to make copies for loved ones or your doctors. If anything changes, make sure your documents are updated as needed. 4

Finally, think about where you spend your time. If you split the year between two different states (hopefully one is warm), then you may want to create an advance care directive for both states to be safe. Oh, and keep copies of both states together, in each state.

What's the Five Wishes® document?

The Five Wishes document is a popular tool to help you write your legal advance directive in a way that’s easy to understand. It captures all areas of life (health, personal, emotional, spiritual), and is a good document to help guide your conversations with loved ones around these topics. Your Five Wishes are:

• Who I want to make health care decisions for me
• The kind of medical treatment I want or don't want
• How comfortable I want to be
• How I want people to treat me
• What I want my loved ones to know

Five Wishes is written in plain language and is available in 23 different languages. It meets the legal requirements in 42 states. If it doesn’t meet legal requirements in your state, you still might want to consider using it as a guide to capture this important information. Then, you can transfer your wishes to the legal document your state requires.

How do I make sure my advance directives are official?

 You can seek the help of a lawyer, or not – it’s up to you. (Keep in mind, working with a lawyer will cost some money.) Since each state has different requirements, it’s important to find your local Area Agency on Aging to find out what they are. Or, you can call 1-800-677-1116 to talk to an Information Specialist. They’re available Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET.

Do I need to talk to my doctor about my advance care planning documents?

Another great question. It’s not necessary to talk to your doctor about your advance care planning, but it’s probably a good idea. You can never be too prepared. Your doctor can take a look at your documents and make sure your health care directive is clear and that there’s no concern with your wishes from a medical perspective. Your doctor can also help you clarify anything that needs a little extra detail. Plus, if you have questions about things you've read or heard about advance care directives, they could point you to good resources for answers .

Related content

• Caregiver resources
• Choosing a doctor

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Advertisement

Tracking Abortion Bans Across the Country

By The New York Times Updated May 1, 4:40 P.M. ET

• Share full article

Twenty-one states ban abortion or restrict the procedure earlier in pregnancy than the standard set by Roe v. Wade, which governed reproductive rights for nearly half a century until the Supreme Court overturned the decision in 2022.

In some states, the fight over abortion access is still taking place in courtrooms, where advocates have sued to block bans and restrictions. Other states have moved to expand access to abortion by adding legal protections.

Latest updates

• The Arizona state legislature voted to repeal an 1864 ban on nearly all abortions. Officials warned that the near-total ban may be briefly enforceable this summer until the repeal takes effect in the fall. A 15-week ban remains in effect.
• A ban on abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy took effect in Florida , following a ruling by the Florida Supreme Court that the privacy protections of the state’s Constitution do not extend to abortion.

The New York Times is tracking abortion laws in each state after the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization , which ended the constitutional right to an abortion.

Where abortion is legal

In a few states that have enacted bans or restrictions, abortion remains legal for now as courts determine whether these laws can take effect. Abortion is legal in the rest of the country, and many states have added new protections since Dobbs.

Ban in effect

Note: TK note here.

Legal for now

State details.

More details on the current status of abortion in each state are below.

An earlier version of this article misstated the legal status of abortion in Utah. As of 4 p.m. on June 24, the state attorney general had issued a statement saying the state’s abortion ban had been triggered, but it had not yet been authorized by the legislature’s general counsel. By 8:30 p.m., the counsel authorized the ban and it went into effect.

A table in an earlier version of this article misstated which abortion ban is being challenged in Texas state court. Abortion rights supporters are challenging a pre-Roe ban, not the state’s trigger ban.

An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to the legal status of abortion in Indiana. While Indiana abortion providers stopped offering abortion services in anticipation of an abortion ban taking effect on Aug. 1, the law did not take effect.