Research in medical education

This paper provides a brief overview of the main approaches to research in medical education. It discusses the quantitative, qualitative and mixed- methods research paradigms with respect to study designs, data collection methods and data analysis. Different study designs are supported with recent examples from healthcare education research to highlight their relevance and appropriate use. The review serves to enable the readers to select an approach that addresses their research goal. The practical tips regarding data collection tools and statistical analysis should aid medical educators to plan a research strategy that successfully answers the research question and produces credible and generalisable data. This can advance knowledge in the field to benefit teachers, students and patients alike.