Dr. Didgar Research InstituteRESEARCH & INSIGHTStart a free consultation
Dr. Didgar Research Institute

Learning paths

Eight study paths for design, evidence, analysis, data, writing and publishing, each linked to guides and concrete deliverables.

Illustration of a research library and study desk

This is a learning order; actual work may iterate. Registration and Stage 1 review need appropriate timing before outcome knowledge. Learn design and foundations before advanced methods and align project decisions with supervision.

01

From an idea to an executable project

Work through question, prior evidence, access, design, sample and registration decisions.

  1. Choosing a research design: questions, data and methodsCreate a design rationale and claim/data/assumption matrix.
  2. Reproducible literature searching: concepts, databases and logsPrepare a multi-database search log and a read-source matrix.
  3. How to write a research proposal: structure and methodsPrepare a one-page design rationale, operational matrix and risk log for supervisor review.
  4. Sample size and statistical power: a defensible justificationSave calculation inputs, scenarios and the design rationale.
  5. Preregistration and analysis plans: decisions before resultsPrepare an assessable plan, prior-access disclosure and deviation log.
  6. Registered Reports: a thesis workflow from Stage 1 to Stage 2Stage 1 manuscript and located reviewer responses.
  7. Research grant planning: fit, budget and timelinePrepare a project rationale, work packages, budget and risk log.

Completion output: Proposal, planned analysis and risk log

02

Search and evidence synthesis

Separate discovery, reading, appraisal and systematic synthesis; plan updating.

  1. Reproducible literature searching: concepts, databases and logsPrepare a multi-database search log and a read-source matrix.
  2. Critical appraisal: methods, evidence and applicabilityCreate an evidence/judgment/consequence table.
  3. Systematic reviews and PRISMA: a practical workflowDeliver the protocol, search log, reconciled flow and extraction table.
  4. Living systematic reviews and PRISMA-LSR 2024A surveillance protocol and update triggers.

Completion output: Search, extraction and reconciled flow records

03

Quantitative analysis and uncertainty

Establish units, data quality and the estimand before advanced methods.

  1. Research data management and reproducibilityProduce a dictionary, cleaning log and access/retention record.
  2. Statistical software compared: SPSS, R and PythonDeliver a requirements comparison, saved workflow and interpreted results table.
  3. Sample size and statistical power: a defensible justificationSave calculation inputs, scenarios and the design rationale.
  4. Missing data and sensitivity analysisPrepare a missingness map, method rationale and sensitivity table.
  5. Effect sizes, confidence intervals and p-valuesWrite an estimate/interval/unit/importance-threshold table.
  6. Equivalence testing with TOST and a justified SESOIA prospective SESOI rationale and test plan.
  7. Association and causal inference: questions and assumptionsDocument the estimand, causal assumptions and adjustment rationale.
  8. Multiverse and specification-curve analysis: decisions to resultsJustified decision and option table.

Completion output: Code, diagnostics and estimate/sensitivity report

04

Measurement and qualitative inquiry

Define approach, meaning, sampling, reflexivity and flexible commitments.

  1. Choosing a research design: questions, data and methodsCreate a design rationale and claim/data/assumption matrix.
  2. Survey design: questions, piloting and response qualityCreate a construct/item map, pilot record and final questionnaire version.
  3. Qualitative research: interviews, coding and interpretationCreate an interview guide, interpretation log and permitted coding example.
  4. Qualitative preregistration: flexibility, reflexivity and decisionsInitial plan identifying open decisions.
  5. AI in research: verification, responsibility and disclosureKeep an AI-use log and source/input checks with the draft.

Completion output: Permitted instrument, interpretation log and reflexivity record

05

Reproducible data and documents

Practice dictionaries, clean execution, access control and code-linked documents.

  1. Research data management and reproducibilityProduce a dictionary, cleaning log and access/retention record.
  2. Reproducible scientific code and simulationDeliver a documented execution bundle with known-answer tests.
  3. Reproducible notebooks: Jupyter, R and execution environmentsKeep the clean-run notebook, environment and execution log.
  4. Preregistering secondary data: prior access and analysis decisionsComplete prior-access record.
  5. FAIR research data: metadata, licensing and reusePrepare metadata, access conditions and a permitted reuse package.
  6. A computational thesis with Quarto: data, figures, tables and textInputs, code, dictionary and environment record.
  7. Data papers: from raw files to a reusable Data DescriptorA dataset package with dictionary and validation evidence.
  8. Research software papers and JOSS readinessA readiness matrix with actual evidence links.

Completion output: Versioned package with README and expected outputs

06

From evidence to a thesis and paper

Integrate chapter logic, citation, claim scope and responsible revision.

  1. APA, IEEE and Harvard citation guideCreate a corrected reference library and text/list reconciliation record.
  2. Scientific article types and journal selectionPrepare a coherent draft and claim-to-evidence matrix.
  3. Thesis and dissertation structure and defense preparationKeep a question-to-evidence matrix and institutional delivery checklist with the thesis.
  4. Thesis by publication: linking chapters and an integrated argumentArchitecture mapping papers to the central question.
  5. Constraints on Generality: from your sample to a defensible claimA scope and target-claim matrix.
  6. Interpreting Turnitin and iThenticate similarityProduce a match-by-match interpretation and documented correction record.
  7. Similarity reports: components and revision checklistKeep a match/reason/action matrix with the original report.

Completion output: Coherent text, evidence matrix and reference library

07

Responsible publishing and open science

Review outputs, rights, versions, review and transparency before choosing an outlet.

  1. Open access and publishing rights: versions and repositoriesCreate an access-route, cost, rights and version-status comparison.
  2. ORCID, DOI and researcher identityPrepare an identifier/version/destination verification register.
  3. Rights retention: versions, agreements and open accessA version-specific policy and contract comparison.
  4. Preprint peer review: choosing between PCI and the eLife modelAn evidenced comparison of routes and local recognition.
  5. Registered Reports: a thesis workflow from Stage 1 to Stage 2Stage 1 manuscript and located reviewer responses.
  6. Journal submission and reviewer-response checklistPrepare an outlet comparison, submission record and response matrix.
  7. TOP 2025: build a verifiable research packagePractice-level-evidence-owner matrix.
  8. Verifying a new reporting standard: the PRISMA-trAIce caseA standard-provenance and version log.

Completion output: Outlet, rights and evidenced disclosure records

08

Reporting health research

Use actual design, correct versions and specialist review; a checklist is not study authorization.

  1. Research reporting guidelines: PRISMA, CONSORT and COREQBuild a guideline/version/evidence matrix with non-applicability reasons.
  2. CONSORT and SPIRIT 2025: trial reports and protocolsVersioned protocol and report matrices.
  3. Reporting chatbot health-advice studies with CHARTA version, prompt, repetition and rating protocol.
  4. Critical appraisal: methods, evidence and applicabilityCreate an evidence/judgment/consequence table.
  5. Verifying a new reporting standard: the PRISMA-trAIce caseA standard-provenance and version log.

Completion output: Protocol/report matrix, version and safety controls

Research glossary
Back to top