Helpful Words and Meanings
Glossary of Common Research Terms
Common research words
This page explains common research words in clear, simple language. Understanding these words can help you ask questions and make informed choices.
Taking part in research is always your choice.
Key words
Blinded studies
If you are in a single-blind study, you will not know which treatment or group you have been assigned to. However, the researchers will have this information.
If you are in a double-blind study, neither you nor the researchers will know which treatment or group you are in.
The aim of blinding is to make the study results as fair and accurate as possible.
Clinical trial
A clinical trial is a type of research that tests a new treatment. This could be a new type of medicine, device, or way of providing care. A clinical trial helps us find out if the new treatment is safe and how well it works.
Healthy volunteer
A healthy volunteer is a person who does not have the condition or illness being studied but chooses to take part in research. Healthy volunteers help researchers understand how a treatment, test, or process works in people who are generally well.
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion and exclusion criteria are the rules that explain who can and cannot take part in the research. They might include things like age, health condition, or past treatments. These criteria help make sure the study is safe and that the results are meaningful.
If you do not meet the criteria, it does not reflect on you personally. It just means that the research may not be right for you.
Informed consent
Informed consent means you have all the information you need to decide whether or not to take part in research. It means researchers have explained the research in clear language. They should tell you what will happen, possible risks or benefits, and your rights. Giving your informed consent is always your choice. You can also change your mind.
Participant
A participant is a person who is taking part in research. Participants help researchers learn more about certain treatments and conditions. Being a participant is your choice.
Patient volunteer
A patient volunteer is a person who has a health condition or illness and chooses to take part in research. Patient volunteers help researchers learn more about the condition, how treatments work, or how to improve care.
Placebo
A placebo looks like the medicine or therapy being tested. However, it does not contain the active ingredients. For example, the placebo could be a sugar pill.
Some researchers use placebos so they can compare treatments and understand whether a medicine or therapy really works. Your research team will tell you if their research involves a placebo.
Principal Investigator – PI
The principal investigator, or PI, is the main researcher in charge of a study. They are responsible for planning the research, making sure it is carried out safely and correctly, and looking after the people taking part.
Protocol
The protocol is the plan for the research. The protocol explains what will happen, who can take part, and how researchers will keep participants safe. You can think of it as the study’s instruction manual.
Randomisation
Randomisation is when participants are assigned to different treatment groups by chance, like flipping a coin. This helps researchers compare treatments and find out which one works best.
Research
Research is a way of finding new knowledge or improving what we already know. For example, we may want to improve healthcare or better understand people’s experiences with a certain illness or condition.
Sponsor
A sponsor is the organisation or person that is responsible for the research. They can be responsible for starting and managing the research. They might fund the research or arrange funding.
The sponsor could be:
- a commercial company
- a collaborative research group
- a government entity, including health service organisations
- an individual investigator
- a university