Vickers A
Research Council for Complementary Medicine, London, UK.
Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery. 1995 Aug;1(4):113-7. doi: 10.1016/s1353-6117(05)80052-6.
Though health research has long been equated with the randomised control trial (RCT), there are, in fact, many different forms of research. These complement one another as different pieces in a jigsaw of evidence. Qualitative research can provide valuable insights into meaning, motivation, social significance and other aspects of patients' and practitioners' experience. Such data can be useful in the design of more quantitative research, such as surveys of attitudes or RCTs. Audits monitor and evaluate the quality of health care delivery and are an important means of ensuring the value of RCTs in everyday clinical practice. Laboratory research provides data on the mechanisms of a treatment or on its therapeutic effect in controlled conditions. This can provide a valuable background to subsequent clinical research. A prospective researcher should choose a methodology depending on the particular research question he or she wishes to ask: a good question immediately suggests the appropriate type of research.
尽管长期以来健康研究一直等同于随机对照试验（RCT），但实际上存在许多不同形式的研究。这些研究相互补充，如同拼图中的不同碎片。定性研究可以提供关于意义、动机、社会意义以及患者和从业者体验的其他方面的宝贵见解。此类数据在设计更多定量研究（如态度调查或随机对照试验）时可能会很有用。审计监督和评估医疗保健服务的质量，是确保随机对照试验在日常临床实践中有价值的重要手段。实验室研究提供关于治疗机制或其在受控条件下治疗效果的数据。这可以为后续的临床研究提供有价值的背景。前瞻性研究人员应根据他或她想要提出的特定研究问题选择一种方法：一个好问题会立即提示合适的研究类型。
