Један каталог истраживачких метода — сазнајте како свака ради, када се користи и шта не може.
Open access (OA) publishing removes subscription paywalls, making research freely available to all readers online without subscription fees. The Budapest Open Access Initiative (2002) defined OA as the right to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, and link research freely. Multiple OA models exist: Gold OA
ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is a free, unique, persistent 16-digit identifier assigned to researchers that distinguishes them from others with the same or similar names. Launched in 2012 by ORCID Inc., a non-profit organization, the ORCID system addresses a critical problem in scholarly communication: na
The Organizational Readiness for Implementing Change (ORIC) is a 12-item self-report measure that assesses organizational readiness to implement evidence-based practices and innovations. Developed by Shea and colleagues in 2014, the ORIC measures two critical dimensions of organizational readiness: Change Commitment (t
An original research article is the primary vehicle for reporting new empirical findings in a discipline. Following the IMRaD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion), it represents a researcher's novel data, analysis, and interpretation. The journal article format has been the gold standard for scien
Paraphrasing plagiarism occurs when an author rewrites another's ideas in different words but does not cite the source. Unlike verbatim plagiarism (copying word-for-word), paraphrasing plagiarism involves changing vocabulary and sentence structure while retaining the original argument, logic, or conceptual content with
Participant debriefing is a post-study conversation or disclosure providing information to participants after research participation concludes. Debriefing serves multiple ethical purposes: (1) explaining the research aims and design, (2) revealing any deception (if applicable), (3) addressing misconceptions, (4) offeri
Participant observation is a qualitative research method in which the researcher embeds themselves within a community, organization, or social setting for an extended period, engaging in the activities and relationships of the group while systematically observing and documenting behavior, interactions, and cultural mea
Peer review is the process by which manuscripts are evaluated by experts in the same field before publication in academic journals. Reviewers assess the manuscript's scientific merit, methodology, clarity, and contribution to the field. Established in 1665 with the first scientific journal (Philosophical Transactions o
Phenomenological research is a qualitative methodology focused on understanding the lived experience of a phenomenon as it is experienced by individuals. Rooted in the philosophical traditions of Edmund Husserl (descriptive phenomenology) and Martin Heidegger (interpretive phenomenology), this approach seeks to uncover
Plagiarism—the use of others' words, ideas, or methods without attribution—is formally classified as research misconduct by the U.S. Office of Research Integrity and most institutions worldwide. It ranges from verbatim copying of text to paraphrasing without citation to presenting others' ideas as one's own. Unlike acc
The Perceived Organizational Readiness for Assisting the System (PORAS) is a 19-item self-report measure developed by Helfrich and colleagues to assess organizational readiness to implement health information technology systems and other healthcare innovations. Grounded in Weiner's theory of organizational readiness fo
Predatory journals are fake academic publishers that exploit the open-access model by charging authors publication fees without providing peer review, editorial oversight, or quality control. Coined by librarian Jeffrey Beall in 2010, the term describes publishers that prioritize profit over scientific integrity, accep
Preprint servers are open-access repositories where researchers post manuscripts before, during, or alongside peer review at a formal journal. Preprints allow rapid, free dissemination of research findings without waiting for journal review (which can take 3–12 months). Major preprint servers include arXiv (physics, ma
PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) is a 27-item evidence-based checklist published in 2021 (updated from 2009) to standardize reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Endorsed by over 500 journals, PRISMA is the international standard for evidence synthesis reporting,
A PRISMA-based review is a systematic literature review conducted and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Originally published by Moher et al. in 2009 and updated as PRISMA 2020 by Page et al., the framework specifies a 27-item checklist and
PRISMA-compliant co-citation analysis is a systematic bibliometric method that applies the PRISMA 2020 reporting framework to co-citation analysis. It identifies intellectual clusters in a research field by measuring how frequently pairs of documents are cited together, while ensuring full transparency of the literatur
A PRISMA-compliant scoping review is a scoping review conducted and reported according to the PRISMA for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) extension, a 20-item checklist plus explanation published by Tricco et al. in 2018. Scoping reviews map the breadth and volume of evidence on a topic without synthesizing effect sizes; t
A PRISMA-compliant umbrella review is a structured synthesis of existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses on a topic, conducted and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines — specifically the PRIOR extension developed for umbrella reviews
A protocol-based meta-analysis is a meta-analysis conducted according to a detailed, pre-registered protocol that specifies all key methodological decisions — research questions, eligibility criteria, search strategy, outcome measures, and statistical methods — before data collection begins. Pre-registration, typically
Protocol-based meta-ethnography is a structured qualitative evidence synthesis that follows Noblit and Hare's meta-ethnography method while requiring a pre-registered, publicly available protocol — typically on PROSPERO — before the review is conducted. Pre-registration constrains post-hoc decision-making, enhances met
A protocol-based systematic literature review is a systematic review conducted according to a fully pre-specified and publicly registered research protocol. By committing the review question, eligibility criteria, search strategy, and planned analyses to a registered document before data collection begins, this approac
A protocol-based umbrella review is an umbrella review — a synthesis of existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses on a common topic — conducted under a publicly pre-registered protocol, typically in PROSPERO or a similar registry. Pre-registering the protocol before data collection begins commits the research team
PubMed is a free, publicly accessible literature database maintained by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. It provides access to biomedical and life sciences literature from MEDLINE (the curated subset of ~30 million indexed journal articles), life science jour
Qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) is a systematic method for combining and interpreting findings from multiple qualitative research studies to generate higher-level understanding and theory. Different approaches—meta-ethnography, thematic synthesis, meta-narrative review, critical interpretive synthesis—each have di
Qualitative meta-synthesis is a systematic method for synthesizing findings from multiple qualitative research studies (interviews, focus groups, ethnographies) to develop integrated interpretations and theoretical insights. Formalized by Sandelowski and Barroso (2007) and popularized by Thomas and Harden (2008), quali
Qualitative research is a systematic inquiry into human experiences, meanings, behaviors, and contexts using non-numerical data (words, text, images, observations). Unlike quantitative research, which seeks to measure variables and test hypotheses numerically, qualitative research prioritizes depth, contextual richness
A rapid review is a streamlined form of systematic review that deliberately simplifies or omits certain steps — such as dual screening, exhaustive grey-literature search, or full risk-of-bias assessment — in order to deliver timely, policy-relevant evidence synthesis within weeks rather than years. It is increasingly u
A rapid review is a systematic synthesis method that accelerates the evidence review process by streamlining or omitting certain systematic review steps while maintaining transparent, reproducible methodology. Pioneered by Khangura et al. (2012) and codified by the Cochrane Collaboration (2020), rapid reviews answer ur
The RE-AIM framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) is a five-dimension evaluation tool designed to assess the public health impact of evidence-based interventions in real-world settings. Developed by Glasgow et al. (1999) to address the gap between efficacy trials (controlled conditions)
Realist synthesis is a theory-driven, interpretive method for evidence synthesis developed by Ray Pawson (2005) that focuses on understanding HOW and WHY interventions work, rather than WHETHER they work. Grounded in realist philosophy, realist synthesis examines Context-Mechanism-Outcome (CMO) configurations: how spec
Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote are the three most widely used reference management applications. Each helps researchers organize bibliographic references, annotate articles, and generate formatted citations and bibliographies. Zotero (launched 2006 by George Mason University) is free and open-source; Mendeley (acquired
Reflexivity is the practice of examining how the researcher's identity, assumptions, relationships, and values influence the research process and findings. Rather than treating objectivity as achievable detachment, reflexivity acknowledges that the researcher is embedded within the research and cannot be fully separate
Research design is the overall structure and strategy of a study, encompassing decisions about how to collect, organize, and analyze data to answer research questions. Major design types include experimental (randomized controlled trials), quasi-experimental (non-random assignment), observational (no manipulation), and
Research front identification is a bibliometric method for detecting emerging or cutting-edge research areas within a larger research landscape. A 'research front' is a cluster of recently published, highly-cited papers that define the current active research direction in a field. Unlike established research communitie
Research integrity encompasses the ethical and professional standards that guide responsible conduct in all aspects of research—from study design and data collection through analysis, reporting, and publication. The core principles—honesty, transparency, accountability, respect, and stewardship—ensure that research is
Research misconduct comprises intentional or reckless fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, conducting, or reporting research. Formally defined by U.S. federal policy (42 CFR Part 93, Office of Research Integrity), misconduct is distinguished from honest error, negligence, and good-faith disagreements
Research question formulation is the process of defining clear, focused, and answerable questions that guide a research study. A well-formulated research question specifies what a researcher seeks to investigate, distinguishing between independent and dependent variables (or phenomena), and sets the scope for literatur
Vulnerable populations are groups with limited capacity to protect themselves due to age, cognitive ability, institutional dependency, or social circumstances. Regulatory frameworks in the U.S. (45 CFR 46 Subparts B, C, D) and internationally identify specific vulnerable populations—children, prisoners, pregnant women,
A response to reviewers (or 'revision letter') is a formal document that authors submit alongside a revised manuscript, addressing each reviewer comment point-by-point. The response letter shows the editor and reviewers that you have carefully considered their feedback, explained changes made in light of their suggesti
Retrospective ethics approval is the ethics committee's review and determination regarding research conducted or data collected before ethics approval was obtained. This situation arises when researchers collect data without advance ethics review (intentionally, out of oversight, or due to institutional gaps) and then
A risk-benefit assessment is a systematic evaluation of the potential harms and benefits of a proposed research study, documented in ethics committee applications. The Belmont Report (1979) established the principle of beneficence—maximizing benefits while minimizing harm—as a cornerstone of research ethics. Regulatory
Sampling is the process of selecting a subset of individuals, observations, or units (the sample) from a larger population to study. Sampling methods are broadly classified into probability (random) and non-probability (non-random) approaches. Probability methods—random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling,
Scaling Up is the deliberate expansion of successful health interventions from pilot sites to entire health systems, regions, or countries. Formalized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Simmons et al. (2007), scaling up is distinct from simple dissemination; it requires systematic planning, financial modeling,
Science mapping is a bibliometric visualization method that creates visual representations of research domains, showing the structure, development, and relationships of scientific fields. Using bibliographic data (citations, keywords, authors, journals), science mapping algorithms generate network diagrams where nodes
Clear scientific writing enables readers to understand methodology, results, and implications without confusion. Clarity is not ornamental—it is essential to scientific integrity. Unclear writing obscures findings, enables misinterpretation, wastes readers' time, and reduces impact and citations. Scientific clarity req
Scientometric analysis applies statistical and computational methods to publication and citation data to measure the growth, structure, and impact of scientific fields. Drawing on databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, or OpenAlex, it quantifies output trends, identifies leading authors and institutions, maps intell
SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) is a prestige-weighted metric measuring journal citation impact based on Scopus data, developed by SCImago Group (a Spanish research consortium) in 2010. Unlike raw citation counts, SJR values citations from high-prestige journals more heavily than those from lower-prestige journals, similar
A scoping review is a systematic evidence-synthesis method that maps the breadth and nature of research on a topic — identifying key concepts, evidence types, and gaps — without necessarily appraising study quality or pooling effect sizes. Developed by Arksey and O'Malley (2005) and refined by Levac and colleagues (201
A scoping review is a structured, transparent literature mapping method that identifies and synthesizes evidence across a defined topic without formally assessing study quality or generating pooled effect estimates. Developed by Arksey and O'Malley (2005) and refined by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and PRISMA-ScR
Scopus, owned by Elsevier, is the world's largest abstract and citation database covering peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and book chapters across all scientific disciplines. Launched in 2004, Scopus now indexes over 37 million documents from more than 6,500 journals, with expanded coverage of open-acce
Self-plagiarism, or text recycling, occurs when an author reuses substantial portions of their own previously published work in a new publication without disclosure or acknowledgment. This includes republishing the same article in different venues, duplicating methods sections across multiple papers, or reusing discuss
A critical distinction exists between similarity percentages generated by plagiarism detection software (Turnitin, iThenticate) and an actual plagiarism verdict. A similarity index is a red flag requiring review; it is not a plagiarism determination. High similarity can result from legitimate quotations, references, sh
The Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoC) is a 35-item self-report instrument that measures the types and intensity of concerns individuals experience when adopting new practices, technologies, or innovations. Developed by Hall and colleagues in the 1970s as part of the Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM), the SoC mea
Transparent reporting of statistical results—including effect sizes, confidence intervals, p-values, and assumptions—is essential for scientific integrity and reproducibility. Many published studies report p-values in isolation without effect sizes or confidence intervals, making it impossible for readers to assess the
STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) is a 22-item evidence-based checklist published in 2007 by Von Elm et al. to improve the quality of reporting of cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional observational studies. Like CONSORT for RCTs, STROBE is endorsed by over 300 journals a
A systematic literature review (SLR) is a structured, reproducible method for identifying, appraising, and synthesizing all relevant studies on a research question. Unlike a narrative review, it follows an explicit, pre-specified protocol — from database search strings through inclusion criteria to data extraction — so
A systematic mapping review (also called a 'scoping review') is a literature review methodology that aims to comprehensively identify and categorize the published evidence on a topic without necessarily assessing the quality of individual studies or synthesizing findings quantitatively. Developed by Arksey and O'Malley
A systematic review is a structured, transparent synthesis of all available evidence addressing a specific research question. Unlike narrative reviews, systematic reviews employ comprehensive database searches, predefined selection criteria, quality assessment, and rigorous reporting (PRISMA guideline). The Cochrane Co
A systematic search strategy is a comprehensive, transparent protocol for retrieving all relevant literature addressing a well-defined research question. Developed by the Cochrane Collaboration and formalized in guidelines like PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), systematic sear
The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) is a 14-domain model that integrates constructs from 33 behavior change and implementation theories to identify barriers and facilitators to professional and public behavior change. Developed by Michie et al. (2005) to provide a practical tool for implementation scientists and be