5 questions - 2 minutes

Which research method
should you start with?

Answer five quick questions and we will match you with the research method that makes the most sense for where you are right now.

Question 1 of 50%
Question 1 of 5
What year are you in?

This helps us understand what is realistically available to you right now.

🌱
Year 1 or 2
Pre-clinical, no regular patient contact yet
🏥
Year 3 or 4
Clinical placements started
🎓
Year 5 or final year
Building my specialty application
👨‍⚕️
Foundation Year 1 or 2
Qualified doctor, ARCP coming up
Question 2 of 5
What is your main goal right now?

Be honest. There is no wrong answer and it shapes your recommendation significantly.

Get a publication on my CV
I want something I can put on my application
Understand research better
I feel lost when I read papers and want to change that
Complete something for my portfolio or ARCP
I need evidence of research activity
Explore a specialty I am interested in
Research is a way to try before I commit
Question 3 of 5
Do you have regular access to patients or clinical data?

A practical question about what is available to you right now.

No clinical access
I am pre-clinical or cannot access patient records
Sometimes
I am on placements but access varies
Yes, regularly
I work in a clinical environment as part of my training
Question 4 of 5
How much time can you realistically commit?

Be honest. An overambitious project left unfinished is worse than a smaller completed one.

A few hours per week at most
I have exams, placements, and a life outside medicine
A consistent half day per week
I can dedicate real time if I plan for it
I can make this a priority for several months
I am ready to commit to a proper project
Question 5 of 5
Do you have a supervisor or collaborator?

Some research types need a supervisor. Others you can start entirely on your own.

Working independently for now
No supervisor lined up yet
A peer or fellow student to collaborate with
A classmate or junior doctor at a similar level
A senior doctor or academic willing to help
A registrar, consultant, or lecturer has agreed to support me
Your recommended starting point

What it involves
How to get started right now
Realistic timeframe
Download the full guide
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