Producing high-quality scholarly work is integral to the advancement of PA education and the PA field as a whole. However, many PA faculty have limited time and resources they can devote to finding research funding and staying up-to-date with sophisticated study design and statistical analyses. The following free resources provide accessible advice and training in study design, data analysis, and other aspects of the research process. If there is a resource you think we should add or something missing that could help you develop your research, let us know at research@PAEAonline.org.
Study and Survey Design
- Study design (Center for Evidence-Based Medicine)
- Conducting survey research (Visser et al 2000)
- Experimental reasoning in social science (Gelman 2010)
- Experimental design (Social Research Methods)
- Descriptive research (Fluid Surveys University)
- Qualitative research design (Lewis 2015)
- Questionnaire design (Pew Research Center)
- Questionnaire design tip sheet (Harvard University Program on Survey Research)
Statistics and Analyses
- What statistical analysis should I use? Includes examples using SAS, Stata, SPSS, and R (UCLA Institute for Digital Research and Education)
- Descriptive vs. inferential statistics (Laerd Statistics)
- Overview of some inferential statistics (Social Research Methods)
- Basic concepts in research and data analysis (SAS)
- A Handbook of Statistical Analyses Using SPSS (Landau & Everitt 2004)
- Annotated output for a variety of statistical analyses (UCLA Institute for Digital Research and Education)
- Power analyses (UCLA Institute for Digital Research and Education)
- Cronbach’s alpha (UVA Research Data Services + Sciences)
- Survey validity (National Business Research Institute)
- The Statistics Tutor’s Quick Guide to Commonly Used Statistical Tests (statstutor)
Free Statistical Programs
Some institutions have statistical programs available on campus computers or mechanisms for researchers to purchase discounted licenses. Below is a list of free statistical programs.
- R is a free, flexible, open-source code-based program with extensive online documentation and user forums. Download R Studio in addition for a more user-friendly interface. Free resources for learning R:
- swirl
- Code School
- UCLA Institute for Digital Research and Education
- R-bloggers
- Data Camp
-
R for Data Science (Grolemund & Wickham)
- SAS is a popular code-based program. You can download a free University Edition.
- HLM is used for running multilevel models. You can download a free student version.
- PSPP is a free, open-source alternative to SPSS. It will run most SPSS syntax.
Writing and Publishing
- Statistical writing (UCLA Institute for Digital Research and Education)
- Key elements of a research paper (Social Research Methods)
- Writing the empirical journal article (Bem)
- Writing the empirical social science research paper: A guide for the perplexed (Pasek 2012)
- How to get your journal article published (SAGE Publishing)
- How to publish in scholarly journals (Klinger et al 2005)
- Understanding the publishing process (Elsevier)
- Tools for grant writing (Vanderbilt University School of Medicine)
- Ten simple rules for getting grants (Bourne & Chalupa 2006)
- Grant proposals (UNC)
Journals
- Journal of Physician Assistant Education (JPAE)
- Advances in Health Sciences Education
- Health & Social Care in the Community
- Healthcare: The Journal of Delivery Science and Innovation
- Health Services Research
- Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice (JIEP)
- Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (JAAPA)
- Journal of Rural Health
- Medical Care Research and Review
- Medical Education
Funding Opportunities
Some institutions have grants and fellowships offices that help researchers identify and apply to funding opportunities. PAEA encourages members to utilize such resources.
- PAEA grants and scholarships
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- Commonwealth Fund
- gov
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
- Langeloth Foundation
- List of health-related grants
- The MAYDAY Fund
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- PA Foundation
- United Hospital Fund (NY only)
- US Department of Education