Blog 2: What is scientific research?

What is scientific research?

Scientific research is the systematic collection and analysis of data to generate reliable knowledge and answer specific questions. It follows established methods, standards, and procedures to ensure that the results are as accurate and trustworthy as possible.
Researchers may, for example, study measurements or investigate the effects of a particular treatment. In ME/CFS research, this can include measuring physical exertion, recovery, sleep, or biomarkers, or evaluating the effectiveness of a medication.

The results of scientific research should be verifiable and reproducible.
Verifiable means that other researchers can examine how a study was conducted and evaluate its findings. To make this possible, researchers make their methods and data available whenever appropriate. Without this transparency, it is difficult to determine whether the results are based on careful scientific investigation or have been influenced by errors, bias, or even fabrication.

Reproducible means that other researchers should be able to repeat the study using the same methods and obtain similar results. In practice, this is not always the case. Small differences in study design, measurement methods, or the characteristics of participants can influence the outcome. When studies produce different results, additional research is needed to understand why.

Without scientific research, it is difficult to judge how reliable a finding really is. How can we know whether a treatment genuinely improves patients’ health? And how can we determine whether an improvement is due to the treatment itself rather than chance, expectations, or the natural fluctuations of the disease?

Different Types of Scientific Research

Scientific research can take many different forms, including basic research, applied research, epidemiological research, and clinical research. A single study may combine elements of several of these approaches.

Basic Research

Basic research aims to increase knowledge and understanding of fundamental biological processes without necessarily having an immediate practical application.
Researchers usually share the results of basic research with other scientists through publications in scientific journals and presentations at conferences. High-quality publications are an important measure of scientific excellence.
An example of basic research is studying DNA and genetic susceptibility to disease.

Applied Research

Applied research has a more direct practical objective. It focuses on developing or improving innovations, treatments, medicines, or diagnostic methods.
Because applied research often addresses complex healthcare challenges, it typically involves collaboration between researchers from different disciplines, including scientists, physicians, and technical experts.
One example is the development or improvement of a diagnostic test that can help identify a disease more accurately.

Epidemiological Research

Epidemiological research studies the occurrence and distribution of diseases in large groups of people. Its goal is to understand how and why diseases develop and spread.
This knowledge helps researchers identify risk factors, improve prevention strategies, and better understand differences between population groups.
In epidemiological research, scientists do not rely solely on medical diagnoses. They also collect information directly from participants about their symptoms and health experiences. This provides a more complete picture of how many people may be affected by a particular condition.

Clinical Research

When a medicine or treatment shows promising results in the laboratory, it can be tested in people. This is known as clinical research.
Clinical studies investigate whether a treatment is effective, whether it is safe, and what side effects may occur, particularly during long-term use.
Sometimes clinical research shows that a treatment is not effective or that it causes unacceptable side effects. These findings are just as important as positive results because they help ensure that only safe and effective treatments are introduced into clinical practice.

Who Conducts Scientific Research?

Scientific research is carried out by researchers working at universities, university medical centres, hospitals, and research institutes such as TNO(Dutch Organisation for Applied Scientific Research).
Researchers at universities often focus on basic research, while clinical research is commonly conducted at university medical centres.
Scientific research forms the foundation of reliable knowledge about diseases, including ME/CFS. It helps distinguish evidence from assumptions and gradually builds our understanding of disease. In the next blogs, we will take a closer look at how scientific research is carried out in practice.