An Introduction to Research for Primary Dental Care Clinicians

Abstract

This paper, the fourth in the series, will address the sixth of the ten stages of a research project suggested in the first paper. The ten suggested stages are:

1. The initial idea (asking a research question).

2. Searching the literature.

3. Refining the research question.

4. Planning the study.

5. Writing a protocol.

6. Obtaining ethical approval and funding.

7. Piloting the methodology and project management.

8. Collecting data.

9. Analysing the data.

10. Writing up and disseminating the results.

A previous paper¹ has outlined the how to plan a research project. The next stage has two elements, which are to obtain ethical approval and to obtain funding. Each is the topic of a separate paper. This paper outlines the key areas within the topic and updates a previous publication, Ethical Considerations.²