1.3 Evidence-based research

‘Evidence-based research’ refers to research conclusions based on evidence, rather than researchers’ hunches, feelings, intuition, hopes, or traditional practice.

Research conclusions are based on evidence, which comes from analysing the collected data.

Definition 1.1 (Data) Data refers to information (observations or measurements) obtained from a study, as numbers, labels, or text.

Data can come from previously-published studies (Chap. 36). Even so, studies usually leave questions unanswered, or technology develops and new ideas need to be tested, or existing ideas need to be adapted to new technologies, situations and knowledge.

In these cases, data comes from new evidence, through research.

Definition 1.2 (Data set) A data set refers to a structured collection of data from a study.