When you're looking for studies, you may need either primary or secondary research or both. It's also important to understand the term peer review (sometimes referred to as "refereed").
Primary research: Original information like studies, clinical trials, reports, dissertations, technical reports and data that hasn't been interpreted. You may need to look for primary studies when there isn't much research on a particular topic.
Secondary research: Research that has been evaluated, summarized and/or synthesized such as literature (or systematic) review articles, textbooks and some clinical databases.
Peer review: An editorial process used by certain journals to evaluate research articles or studies submitted for publication. A panel of experts (peers) anonymously assess the methodological quality, pertinence, value, etc. of submissions, often offering suggestions for revision before making a final decision to reject or accept them. Journals using this process are called peer reviewed (or refereed).
Literature Review: The process of reading, analyzing, evaluating, and summarizing scholarly research about a specific topic. You’re looking for the most relevant and recent information (it’s not just a description or summary).
Need to know more about research terms? Review the document below.
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