• Research Quick Start Guide
• Lunch and Learn: Research 101 (PPT)
• Research Bootcamps
• BMJ Research to Publication Courses
  • Create an Account
• CITI Training
• Qualtrics Account Request
• RVU Research Opportunities and Interests TEAMs page
• PA Capstone Handbook (PDF)

Research Documents

Literature reviews are the first step in any scholarly activity project. Literature reviews allow you to gain a solid foundation on what has already been done on the topic, what gaps there are in the literature (which help you develop your specific question), and permit you to place the project and question in context.

Literature reviews ask: What do we know, or not know, about this particular issue/ topic/ subject? 

How well you answer this question depends upon:

1. the effectiveness of your search for information
2. the quality & reliability of the sources you choose
3. your ability to synthesize the sources you select

Literature reviews require “re-viewing” what credible scholars in the field have said, done, and found in order to help you:

• Identify what is currently known in your area of interest
• Establish an empirical/ theoretical/ foundation for your research
• Identify potential gaps in knowledge that you might fill
• Develop viable research questions and hypotheses
• Decide upon the scope of your research
• Demonstrate the importance of your research to the field

A literature review is not a descriptive summary of what you found. All works included in the review must be read, evaluated, and analyzed, and synthesized, meaning that relationships between the works must also be discussed.

• Literature Reviews (PDF)
• PICO Guidelines to formulate a researchable question
• How to clarify a clinical question
• JAOA Video on how to conduct a systematic lit review
• Using a Synthesis Matrix
• How to read a paper: Getting your bearing (deciding what the paper is about)
• Two-part video on lit reviews:
  • What a literature review is and is not.
  • Describes the types of organization of general review.

Case reports are a detailed report of the symptoms, signs, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of an individual patient. Case reports may contain a demographic profile of the patient, but usually describe an unusual or novel occurrence. Case reports still require a literature review of other reported cases, so see the above accordion for guidance. Below are some videos and documents for writing case reports.

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) provides compliance information and oversight of human subjects research to students, faculty, and staff as regulated by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP).

The IRB carries out a number of functions including:

• Oversight for the protection of human subjects in research
• Maintaining institutional compliance with regulatory requirements
• Providing training on the ethical conduct of research, biosafety, and HIPAA laws
• Providing an IRB Compliance Administrator who assists with applications, forms, and other information, as needed by investigators for submitting research proposals to the IRB for the review and approval pocess
• Maintaining records of IRB reviews and approvals, tracking of progress reports, renewal requests, and modifications of approved studies

IRB Application Login for SSO (single sign on) RVU Users:

• Website
• Students:
  • Login with your RVU email and 365 password
• Faculty/Staff:
  • Login with your RVU email and RVU computer network password

If you have any questions, please email the IRB Compliance Administrator at [email protected] or by calling (720) 874-2481.