The research process: a beginner's guide

Abstract

The introduction of evidence‐based health care and the importance of library services in supporting this trend mean that librarians should at the very least understand the research process. The research process is often misunderstood and feared. This paper explains the research process step by step, giving examples. The major research designs, experimental, quasi‐experimental, survey and action research are described. This paper is deliberately practical rather than academically focused. Its structure could be used to structure a small‐scale research project, with the help of the literature in the annotated bibliography.