You’re interested in epidemiology. What research skills should you master?

1 Literature Review

Before you start any research project, you need to review the existing literature on your topic. This will help you identify the knowledge gaps, the research questions, and the methods that have been used by other epidemiologists. You will also learn from the strengths and weaknesses of previous studies, and avoid duplicating or contradicting them. To perform a literature review, you need to know how to search for relevant sources, evaluate their quality and credibility, and synthesize their findings.

2 Data Collection

Data collection is the process of gathering information from various sources to answer your research question. Depending on your study design, you may use primary or secondary data, or both. Primary data are collected directly from the participants or the environment, such as surveys, interviews, observations, or biological samples. Secondary data are obtained from existing sources, such as databases, records, or reports. You need to know how to select the appropriate data collection methods, tools, and instruments, and how to ensure their validity and reliability.

3 Data Analysis

Data analysis is the process of transforming, organizing, and interpreting the data you have collected. It involves applying statistical techniques and software to test your hypotheses, identify patterns and trends, and draw conclusions. You need to know how to choose the right analytical methods, such as descriptive or inferential statistics, regression models, or survival analysis. You also need to know how to use software programs, such as R, SAS, or SPSS, to perform the calculations and generate the outputs.

5 Data Ethics

Data ethics is the set of principles and practices that guide your conduct as a researcher. It covers issues such as data protection, privacy, consent, confidentiality, and integrity. You need to know how to comply with the ethical standards and regulations of your field, institution, and funding agency. You also need to know how to address any ethical dilemmas or challenges that may arise during your research, such as data sharing, ownership, or quality.

6 Writing and Publishing

Writing and publishing are the final steps of your research project. They involve preparing a manuscript that reports your methods, results, and conclusions, and submitting it to a peer-reviewed journal or conference. You need to know how to structure your paper according to the guidelines and format of your target publication, such as IMRaD, APA, or MLA. You also need to know how to write clearly, concisely, and convincingly, and how to cite and reference your sources properly.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?