2.4 Common problems and how to avoid them Elizabeth Oddone Paolucci Community Health Sciences & Surgery

Objectives By the end of this session, learners may be able to: Identify potential problems common to planning and conducting a scholarly project; and Present potential ways to mitigate or overcome anticipated problems.

Common problems (and solutions) Project planning phase: Unfocused, unclear, or unrealistic research questions; Inappropriate methods; Findings and methods lack generalizability; and Lack of expertise Choose your topic and methodology Interdisciplinary teams and advisors

Other common problems (and solutions) Recruitment and response rates Leverage your network and pursue alternatives Short, easy, clear surveys in the right format Data entry problems Software access, training, and support Well-trained, detail-oriented personnel Outside analyst

Other common problems (and solutions) Making sense of data Research question focus Listen to the data Inconsistent protocol or change in plan Consult with advisors to amend Notify ethics board Be ethical, clear, and transparent

Other common problems (and solutions) Miscalculated timelines Plan and confirm what’s realistic and sensible Use project management tools (Session 2.1) Errors in budget Plan in advance Review and confirm costs

Other common problems (and solutions) Declining motivation or morale Passion and interest Stay positive Reward yourself

Summary There are some common problems that you may encounter in scholarly work. It’s important to avoid or mitigate them when possible so as not to jeopardize the quality of your data or conduct of your project.

2.4 Common problems and how to avoid them Elizabeth Oddone Paolucci Community Health Sciences & Surgery