Ann K. Allen is a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Medical Education in the School of Medicine, Cardiff University. Previously she was Director of Cardiff University's Master of Public Health Programme where amongst other themes she taught epidemiological research methods. Ann trained in sociology and anthropology and has conducted health evaluations in many developing countries. She began with a research programme in Sudan to control Schistosomiasis, followed by a World Bank project supporting subsistence farmers in Southern Sudan. Since then she has acted as a consultant to health related projects in Africa, South America and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Introduction - Ann K Allen
Doing Research - Ann K Allen
Doing a Literature Review - Ann K Allen
Critical Appraisal - Ann K Allen
Evaluation and Research Methods - Ann K Allen
Data Collection and Information Gathering - Ann K Allen
Data Processing and Analysis - Ann K Allen with Blanche Lumb and Michael Hollifield
Interpreting the Implications of Research - Ann K Allen
Communicating the Outcomes of Research and Evaluation - Ann K Allen and Seema Biswas
Audit - Dawn Lau and Ann K Allen
Doing Health Service Evaluation and Quality Improvement - Ann K Allen and Dawn Lau

The revised Tomorrow's Doctors makes it clear that doctors need to be aware of their responsibilities as scholars and scientists and it is therefore vital that students develop excellent research skills. Whilst there are many 'research skills' books, medical students frequently struggle with understanding the difference between the practices of research, audit, service evaluation, systematic and narrative reviews and when and how to apply them. This book addresses the kinds of questions novice investigators always ask and helps students utilise study designs, data collection tools and analysis effectively.