Study Types & Quality Guidelines
Learn which study design fits your question, and how to assess trustworthiness.
Think of It Like Hiring
Each step builds on the last:
"Is the resume complete?"
Can't judge what's not there
"Are they actually qualified?"
Reference check their claims
"Should we hire for THIS role?"
Right fit for your needs?
Complete resume ≠ good candidate ≠ right hire. Each step answers a different question.
Two Types of Research
"Doing the experiment"
✓ Report → ✓ Appraise → ⟳ Feeds into GRADE
Contribute to systematic reviews where GRADE applies
"Combining experiments"
✓ Report → ✓ Appraise → ✓ GRADE
Bodies of evidence get interpreted
How GRADE works: When a systematic review synthesizes studies, GRADE rates the body of evidence. RCTs start HIGH, observational starts LOW, diagnostic starts HIGH but often downgrades (accuracy ≠ patient outcomes).
Primary Studies
(→ feed into GRADE)Evidence Synthesis
(+GRADE)Walk through a real systematic review using PRISMA, NOS, and GRADE