The 3 Kinds of People Necessary for a Successful Research Study
You NEED these people on your research team.
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To design and carry out a solid scientific study, you need:
1️⃣ A researcher with specialized training and expertise in designing appropriate studies to answer unique research questions.
2️⃣ A subject matter expert in the field with research experience.
3️⃣ A good project manager to execute.
If your project doesn’t have all 3—whether in the same person (very rare) or in a collaborative team—your study isn’t going to go far.
Each of these roles brings essential skills and perspectives to the research process, ensuring not only that the study is well-designed and methodologically sound but also that it is executed efficiently and effectively.
Here are just some of the must-haves for each role.
Researchers must have specialized training and knowledge in:
Research methodology and study design, including the pros and cons of each study type
Bias in research—from researcher bias to how each study choice could introduce or protect the results from being biased ← You need this not only to maintain scientific integrity, but also to ensure your results are taken seriously
Survey item creation (e.g., how to avoid confusion and ensure valid results)
Survey development including item/measure order to avoid biased results
Participation fatigue (such as when it occurs, under what contexts and how to reduce it)
Establishing robust data entry and maintenance procedures
Data analysis, including knowledge of which model is appropriate for the study design, cleaning data and dealing with missingness, conducting power analyses to make sure you are have enough participants, etc. (This could be a different person that works along with the researcher, such as a Data Scientist or Statistician.)
Research ethics and human subjects protection, including responsible research conduct, proper consenting and debriefing, and data security protocols
Interacting with ethics committees/institutional review boards
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs):
Have an understanding of what’s already been done in the field and provide direction on ways to innovate
Understand theoretical concepts (AKA constructs) in the field and advise on the most appropriate measures to reflect those constructs
Contribute to the study design and protocol in light of the study goals, outcomes being studies, and the special considerations for the population
Ensure data analytic methods are appropriate for the study focus and advise on field-specific analytic and reporting norms
Project Managers then ensure the project is carried out effectively, on budget, and on time by being responsible for:
Accurate budget estimates and balancing finances
Timeline creation and management
Communicating with participants and ensuring protocol adherence
Team management and “herding the cats”
Quality control; establishing and safeguarding against data mishaps
Incentive/compensation management
Admittedly, a team like this is hard to find. It’s part of the reason I’m so proud of my team at EvolveWell Research Partners. Our researchers not only embody the essential roles of Researcher and Project manager, but are experts at what they do and are SMEs in their fields. (For example, we have researchers with expertise in the psychology and physiology mental and physical health and wellbeing, stress, fitness and exercise science, health behaviors, and more.)
What’s more, it’s even harder to find a team with these skills who collaborates seamlessly and effectively, capitalizing on the strengths that each of us carry. A unicorn team, for sure. I’m thankful for it, and I know our clients are too.
👋 I'm Lydia Roos, health psychologist and Founder of EvolveWell Research Partners
📌 EvolveWell offers specializes in conducting research for mental and physical health, wellness, and fitness companies on a project, fractional, or advisory basis. [evolvewellresearch.com]