DSCI 321 - Health Analytics Library Research Guide

Research methods are techniques used by individuals to perform scientific investigations following systematic processes. These investigations are conducted by researchers, who can be specialists in a number of different fields. Researchers seek to discover facts, prove or revise theories, or develop plans of action based on results.

In the health area, research is designed to develop reliable data on problems and needs that are important to the individual/community, with a particular focus on guiding practitioners. Today, due to innumerable innovations in health, health decision-making needs to be based on scientific principles, which is a daily process that is integral to the rhythm of life, product and reason for social interests in confrontation based on learning, not summarized to mere reproduction. In this context, when considering that the quality of the research is directly linked to the presentation of the results, it is important to note the importance of the construction of research protocols that present the step-by-step techniques of organization and analysis of the data, understanding that the researcher, when in possession of collected data, must be sure that when they work respecting the chosen technique, they will indicate the evidences of the study, with possibilities to achieve a new knowledge with the minimum of bias that can happen. Thus, the importance of emphasizing the scientific method as a way for the development of scientific research in order to achieve the objectives set is understood, increasing the rigor of the research to give visibility to information that enables conscious professional practices and within o