ReviewBMC medical research methodology2020
A tutorial on methodological studies: the what, when, how and why.
Review in BMC medical research methodology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 70 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
70 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Methodological rigour and reporting quality of the literature on wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release: a global systematic review.The veterinary quarterly · 2025Pooled it
- Mixed Methods Studies Using Secondary Analysis in Nursing and Midwifery: A Methodological Review.Journal of advanced nursing · 2025Pooled it
- The odds of developing asthma and wheeze among children and adolescents exposed to particulate matter: asystematic review and meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2025Pooled it
- Underserved groups could be better considered within population-based eye health surveys: a methodological study.Journal of clinical epidemiology · 2024Pooled it
- The endorsement of general and artificial intelligence reporting guidelines in radiological journals: a meta-research study.BMC medical research methodology · 2023Pooled it
- Methodological transparency of preoperative clinical practice guidelines for elective surgery. Systematic review.PloS one · 2023Pooled it
- Use of mixed methods research in intervention studies to increase young people's interest in STEM: A systematic methodological review.Frontiers in psychology · 2022Pooled it
- Guidelines are needed for studies of pre-treatment HIV drug resistance: a methodological study.BMC medical research methodology · 2021Pooled it
- Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) in methodological research: exploring challenges, tensions and learning from the perspectives of PPIE and researchers in the Realist Economic Evaluation Methods (REEM) study.Research involvement and engagement · 2026Article
- The development and utility of frameworks designed to evaluate research capacity building initiatives in healthcare settings: a methodological review.Health research policy and systems · 2026Review
- Randomized Clinical Trials Using a Hierarchical Composite Primary End Point: A Scoping Review.JAMA network open · 2026Article
- Retracted Publications Related to Statistics: A Scopus-Based Bibliometric Analysis.Journal of Korean medical science · 2026Article
- Patient and Public Involvement Reporting Consistency: Analysis of 24 Clinical Practice Guidelines From 4 Countries.Clinical and public health guidelines · 2026Article
- Incorporating Antimicrobial Resistance Considerations in Antimicrobial Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines: A Protocol for the Development of a Checklist and Multifaceted Appraisal of Existing Guidelines.Clinical and public health guidelines · 2026Article
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- Investigating Placebos and Controls Used in Large Language Model-Based Chatbot Intervention Trials: Protocol for a Methodological Review.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Methods of Analysis in Randomized Noninferiority Trials: Methodological Survey Review Protocol.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
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- [Methodological and ethical congruence in medical research protocols at a local hospital committee].Revista medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social · 2026Observational
10 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMethodological studies - studies that evaluate the design, analysis or reporting of other research-related reports - play an important role in health research. They help to highlight issues in the conduct of research with the aim of improving health research methodology, and ultimately reducing research waste. MAIN BODY: We provide an overview of some of the key aspects of methodological studies such as what they are, and when, how and why they are done. We adopt a "frequently asked questions" format to facilitate reading this paper and provide multiple examples to help guide researchers interested in conducting methodological studies. Some of the topics addressed include: is it necessary to publish a study protocol? How to select relevant research reports and databases for a methodological study? What approaches to data extraction and statistical analysis should be considered when conducting a methodological study? What are potential threats to validity and is there a way to appraise the quality of methodological studies?
conclusionAppropriate reflection and application of basic principles of epidemiology and biostatistics are required in the design and analysis of methodological studies. This paper provides an introduction for further discussion about the conduct of methodological studies.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.