Research on methods and meta-research

Research on methods and meta-research are indispensable components of scientific practice. They make a significant contribution to improve the quality, transparency and efficiency of research. By ensuring the validity and reliability of research methods, they guarantee that scientific findings are accurate and reliable. They promote innovation, reduce bias and strengthen confidence in scientific results. Ultimately, this benefits society as a whole.

Promoting replicability and transparency ensures that scientific results are traceable and verifiable. This strengthens confidence in research. At the same time, identifying and minimising methodological biases enables higher objectivity and credibility in research. Optimising existing methods and developing new approaches can lead to a more efficient use of resources and prevent waste. Innovations in methodology enable science to adapt to new challenges and to technological advances. 

Furthermore, research on methods and meta-research contribute to the generalisability and transferability of research findings. They ensure that insights from individual studies can be applied to broader contexts and different populations. Standardised and well-validated methods facilitate the comparison of results across different studies and disciplines.

A key focus of our work is planning, implementing and reporting research on methods and meta-research – with the aim to further develop evidence syntheses and empirical research projects. We generally adopt a structured and collaborative approach. 

We are a research group with specialist knowledge and a high level of expertise in the field of literature-based research and evidence syntheses. If you are interested in collaborating with us, we look forward to getting in contact with you.

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Julian Hirt, julian.hirt@ost.ch