Welcome to the PORSCH Research Portal
On this page, we introduce resources to help with your journey into research. There are many places where you can find information and support, and a few of them are listed below.
There are also PowerPoints to introduce you to research terminology and theory as well as an introduction to research design and interpretation.
Contents:
1 Good Clinical Practice, NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research)
2 NIHR Learn
3 Clinical Research Network Toolkit
4 Defining Research Table; Do I need ethics?
5 Rules of Thumb for writing research articles
6 Using NVivo
7 Using SPSS
8 Thematic Analysis
9 How clinical research in the UK is organised
10 Grants and funding information
11 An Introduction to Research (PowerPoint)
12 Research Design and Interpretation (PowerPoint)
Good Clinical Practice (NIHR)
What is GCP?
GCP is the agreed international standard for conducting clinical research. Good Clinical Practice Training is needed for researchers conducting Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products (CTIMPs). It’s also known as ICH GCP - The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) Guideline for Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
Weblink: Good Clinical Practice (GCP) | NIHR
2. NIHR Learn
Find out more about what health and care research is and how you can develop your research knowledge and skills.
Weblink: Research training and careers | NIHR
NIHR Nursing and Midwifery Incubator has also designed some free online courses to attract and support health and social care professionals into research, they aim to help individuals take the next step in their research careers.
Weblink: New online courses to help support research careers | NIHR
3. CRN Health Service Research Toolkit
Health services research often means trying to understand and evaluate complex systems in rapidly changing contexts. This almost always requires mixed methods, and adoption of innovative methods. In this section, the Clinical Research Network provides access to resources relating to key methodological challenges faced by health services researchers.
Weblink: CRN HSR Toolkit - Research Methods (google.com)
4. Defining Research Table: do I need ethics?
This table describes the key characteristics of research, service evaluation, audit and health surveillance projects in order to assist with deciding how a project should be managed.
Weblink: Microsoft Word - DefiningResearchTable_OCT2022.docx (hra-decisiontools.org.uk)
5. Rules of Thumb for writing research articles
This paper provides 'rules of thumb' for writing research articles (RA) and getting them published. These were discussed during the "Scientific writing course" organized for ITC PhD students by Cressie Communication Services. Important aspects of macro and sub-structure of a paper were selected through group discussions. The substructure and functions of different sections of RAs are described. Results of previous investigations and interviews among journal editors were used to summarize what makes a good RA. It was concluded that clear, logical, coherent, focused, good argument and well-structured writing gets the paper published and read. Some important rules of the thumb selected were: “Adjust your writing to the audience and purpose”, “Avoid redundancy and unnecessary explanations” and “Write like you speak and then revise”.
Weblink: Rules of thumb for Scientific Writing (utwente.nl)
6. Using NVivo
NVivo is one type of software used for qualitative data analysis.
Qualitative researchers describe, evaluate and interpret social phenomena. They analyse data from interviews, surveys, field notes, web pages and journal articles and work in sectors from social science and education to healthcare and business. NVivo allows them to organize, analyse and visualize their data, finding the patterns it contains.
Weblink: Getting started basics (qsrinternational.com)
7. Using SPSS
SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) is a software program used by researchers in various disciplines for quantitative analysis of complex data.
Weblink: IBM SPSS Statistics Videos - YouTube
8. Thematic Analysis
Thematic analysis is one of the most common forms of analysis within qualitative research. It emphasizes identifying, analysing and interpreting patterns of meaning within qualitative data.
Weblink: Thematic Analysis in Qualitative Research (Braun & Clarke, 2006) 🔍 (youtube.com)
9. How Clinical Research in the UK is Organised
This film covers key organisations involved in clinical research in the UK including administration, organisation, funding, regulation, local support services and how to find out more.
Weblink: How clinical research in the UK is organised (youtube.com)
10. Grant Calls for Offender MH research
10.1 Welcome Trust:
We fund researchers to take on important questions relating to life, health, and wellbeing, with creative approaches that push boundaries.
Grant funding schemes and guidance | Grant funding | Wellcome
10.2 Maudsley:
We give grants which range from multi-million pound clinical and research initiatives intended to drive change across the UK, to smaller scale projects directly supporting people who experience mental illness. We champion mental well-being for all, but have a specific focus in our work on the needs and challenges of those who have experienced, or who are most at risk of experiencing mental illness.
10.3 Community Foundation:
We award support grants to support causes in Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, and across North East England, from nearly 300 different funds set up by our donors.
Funding and Support Grants | Community Foundation
10.4 Grants Online – Health, Justice & Welfare:
Grants Online was established in 2001 and has grown to become one of the UK's comprehensive and up to date information resources for organisations looking for grant funding. With nearly 5,000 funding schemes available within the UK, there's a lot of information to keep on top of. Grants Online is trusted by hundreds of organisations to keep them up to date with the latest funding opportunities. By providing up to date grant funding information, alerts and newsletters, we help your organisation to maximise your funding potential - no opportunities missed, and more time to write your applications.
Health, Justice and Welfare - News - Grants Online
10.5 ESRC:
The Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) research funding guide provides information on all aspects of research grant funding for applicants.
ESRC research funding guide – UKRI
10.6 NIHR:
The NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. Working in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients and the public - we fund, enable and deliver world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth. We are also a major funder of applied health research in low and middle-income countries, work that is principally funded through UK aid from the UK government.
NIHR Research Support Service