ABSTRACT
Whether it is laboratory research using test tubes and drugs, observational research about different tribes in South America, questionnaire research to assess people’s beliefs, or a clinical trial to evaluate which intervention works best; all research has some basic features in common. Thinking critically about research requires an understanding of these basic features. This chapter describes these basic features of research focusing on identifying a research area, the types of research questions and variables used, the sample, and the overall story.
