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Sedlakova J, Stanikic M, Gille F, Bernard J, Horn AB, Wolf M, Haag C, Floris J, Morgenshtern G, Schneider G, Zumbrunn Wojczyńska A, Mouton Dorey C, Ettlin DA, Gero D, Friemel T, Lu Z, Papadopoulos K, Schläpfer S, Wang N, von Wyl V
Refining Established Practices for Research Question Definition to Foster Interdisciplinary Research Skills in a Digital Age: Consensus Study With Nominal Group Technique
Refining established practices for research question definition to foster interdisciplinary research skills in a digital age: Consensus study with nominal group technique
Jana Sedlakova;
Mina Stanikic;
Felix Gille;
Jürgen Bernard;
Andrea B. Horn;
Markus Wolf;
Christina Haag;
Joel Floris;
Gabriela Morgenshtern;
Gerold Schneider;
Aleksandra Zumbrunn Wojczyńska;
Corine Mouton Dorey;
Dominik Alois Ettlin;
Daniel Gero;
Thomas Friemel;
Ziyuan Lu;
Kimon Papadopoulos;
Sonja Schläpfer;
Ning Wang;
Viktor von Wyl
ABSTRACT
Background:
The increased use of digital data in health research calls for inter- and transdisciplinary collaborations as this data is associated with methodological complexities. This often entails merging the linear deductive approach of health science with the explorative iterative approach of data science. Yet, it is questioned how established health research practices and paradigms should adapt to effectively utilize emerging digital data sources and analytical methods.
Objective:
The present study systematically examined differences and similarities between health sciences and data science using their approaches towards defining research question as an illustrative example.
Methods:
To this end, we conducted a literature search and organized three expert workshops with researchers at the University of Zurich.
Results:
We first developed a glossary to establish a shared understanding of common terminologies and concepts. Subsequently, we delineated the established research workflow for research question formulation, emphasizing "what" and "how," while summarizing the necessary tools for facilitating the process. Finally, we proposed clusters of adaptations to this workflow to integrate essential data science practices, offering recommendations for a pragmatic approach to research question formulation.
Conclusions:
Our findings aim to foster a collective understanding for the systematic adaptation of data science methods in utilizing digital data in health research.
Citation
Please cite as:
Sedlakova J, Stanikic M, Gille F, Bernard J, Horn AB, Wolf M, Haag C, Floris J, Morgenshtern G, Schneider G, Zumbrunn Wojczyńska A, Mouton Dorey C, Ettlin DA, Gero D, Friemel T, Lu Z, Papadopoulos K, Schläpfer S, Wang N, von Wyl V
Refining Established Practices for Research Question Definition to Foster Interdisciplinary Research Skills in a Digital Age: Consensus Study With Nominal Group Technique