research titles 2020

The top 10 journal articles of 2020

In 2020, APA’s 89 journals published more than 5,000 articles—the most ever and 25% more than in 2019. Here’s a quick look at the 10 most downloaded to date.

Vol. 52 No. 1 Print version: page 24

1. Me, My Selfie, and I: The Relations Between Selfie Behaviors, Body Image, Self-Objectification, and Self-Esteem in Young Women

Veldhuis, j., et al..

Young women who appreciate their bodies and consider them physical objects are more likely to select, edit, and post selfies to social media, suggests this study in Psychology of Popular Media (Vol. 9, No. 1). Researchers surveyed 179 women, ages 18 to 25, on how often they took selfies, how they selected selfies to post, how often they used filters and editing techniques, and how carefully they planned their selfie postings. They also assessed participants’ levels of body appreciation and dissatisfaction, self-objectification, and self-esteem. Higher levels of self-objectification were linked to more time spent on all selfie behaviors, while body appreciation was related to more time spent selecting selfies to post, but not frequency of taking or editing selfies. Body dissatisfaction and self-esteem were not associated with selfie behaviors. DOI: 10.1037/ppm0000206

2. A Closer Look at Appearance and Social Media: Measuring Activity, Self-Presentation, and Social Comparison and Their Associations With Emotional Adjustment

Zimmer-gembeck, m. j., et al..

This Psychology of Popular Media (online first publication) article presents a tool to assess young people’s preoccupation with their physical appearance on social media. Researchers administered a 21-item survey about social media to 281 Australian high school students. They identified 18 items with strong inter-item correlation centered on three categories of social media behavior: online self-presentation, appearance-related online activity, and appearance comparison. In a second study with 327 Australian university students, scores on the 18-item survey were found to be associated with measures of social anxiety and depressive symptoms, appearance-related support from others, general interpersonal stress, coping flexibility, sexual harassment, disordered eating, and other factors. The researchers also found that young women engaged in more appearance-related social media activity and appearance comparison than did young men. DOI: 10.1037/ppm0000277

3. The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-2019) Outbreak: Amplification of Public Health Consequences by Media Exposure

Garfin, d. r., et al..

Repeated media exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic may be associated with psychological distress and other public health consequences, according to this commentary in Health Psychology (Vol. 39, No. 5). The authors reviewed research about trends in health behavior and psychological distress as a response to media coverage of crises, including terrorist attacks, school shootings, and disease outbreaks. They found that repeated media exposure to collective crises was associated with increased anxiety and heightened acute and post-traumatic stress, with downstream effects on health outcomes such as new incidence of cardiovascular disease. Moreover, misinformation can further amplify stress responses and lead to misplaced or misguided health-protective and help-seeking behaviors. The authors recommended public health agencies use social media strategically, such as with hashtags, to keep residents updated during the pandemic. They also urged the public to avoid sensationalism and repeated coverage of the same information. DOI: 10.1037/hea0000875

4. Barriers to Mental Health Treatment Among Individuals With Social Anxiety Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Goetter, e. m., et al..

This study in Psychological Services (Vol. 17, No. 1) indicates that 3 in 4 people who suffer from anxiety do not receive proper care. Researchers recruited 226 participants in the United States who were previously diagnosed with social anxiety disorder or generalized anxiety disorder and assessed their symptom severity and asked them to self-report any barriers to treatment. Shame and stigma were the highest cited barriers, followed by logistical and financial barriers and not knowing where to seek treatment. Participants with more severe symptoms reported more barriers to treatment than those with milder symptoms. Racial and ethnic minorities reported more barriers than racial and ethnic majorities even after controlling for symptom severity. The researchers called for increased patient education and more culturally sensitive outreach to reduce treatment barriers. DOI: 10.1037/ser0000254

5. The Construction of “Critical Thinking”: Between How We Think and What We Believe

This History of Psychology (Vol. 23, No. 3) article examines the emergence of “critical thinking” as a psychological concept. The author describes how, between World War I and World War II in the United States, the concept emerged out of growing concerns about how easily people’s beliefs could be changed and was constructed in a way that was independent of what people believed. The author delves into how original measurements of critical thinking avoided assumptions about the accuracy of specific real-world beliefs and details how subsequent critical thinking tests increasingly focused on logical abilities, often favoring outcome (what we believe) over process (how we think). DOI: 10.1037/hop0000145

6. Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder: Integration of Alcoholics Anonymous and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Breuninger, m. m., et al..

This article in Training and Education in Professional Psychology (Vol. 14, No. 1) details how to work with alcohol use disorder patients who are participating in both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The authors point to distinctions between AA and CBT: The goal of AA is total abstinence and the primary therapeutic relationship is with a peer in recovery, while CBT takes a less absolute approach and the primary relationship is with a psychotherapist. The authors also point to commonalities: both approaches emphasize identifying and replacing dysfunctional beliefs and place value in social support. The authors recommend clinicians and trainees become more educated about AA and recommend a translation of the 12-step language into CBT terminology to bridge the gap. DOI: 10.1037/tep0000265

7. Positivity Pays Off: Clients’ Perspectives on Positive Compared With Traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression

Geschwind, n., et al..

Positive cognitive behavioral therapy, a version of CBT focused on exploring exceptions to the problem rather than the problem itself, personal strengths, and embracing positivity, works well to counter depressive symptoms and build well-being, according to this study in Psychotherapy (Vol. 57, No. 3). Participants received a block of eight sessions of traditional CBT and a block of eight sessions of positive CBT. Researchers held in-depth interviews with 12 of these participants. Despite initial skepticism, most participants reported preferring positive CBT but indicated experiencing a steeper learning curve than with traditional CBT. Researchers attributed positive CBT’s favorability to four factors: feeling empowered, benefiting from effects of positive emotions, learning to appreciate baby steps, and rediscovering optimism as a personal strength. DOI: 10.1037/pst0000288

8. Targeted Prescription of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Versus Person-Centered Counseling for Depression Using a Machine Learning Approach

Delgadillo, j., & gonzalez salas duhne, p..

Amachine learning algorithm can identify which patients would derive more benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) versus counseling for depression, suggests research in this Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (Vol. 88, No. 1) article. Researchers retrospectively explored data from 1,085 patients in the United Kingdom treated with either CBT or counseling for depression and discovered six patient characteristics—age, employment status, disability, and three diagnostic measures of major depression and social adjustment—relevant to developing an algorithm for prescribing the best approach. The researchers then used the algorithm to determine which therapy would work best for an additional 350 patients with depression. They found that patients receiving their optimal treatment type were twice as likely to improve significantly. DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000476

9. Traumatic Stress in the Age of COVID-19: A Call to Close Critical Gaps and Adapt to New Realities

Horesh, d., & brown, a. d..

This article in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy (Vol. 12, No. 4) argues that COVID-19 should be examined from a post-traumatic stress perspective. The authors call for mental health researchers and clinicians to develop better diagnoses and prevention strategies for COVID-related traumatic stress; create guidelines and talking points for the media and government officials to use when speaking to an anxious, and potentially traumatized, public; and provide mental health training to professionals in health care, education, childcare, and occupational support in order to reach more people. DOI: 10.1037/tra0000592

10. Emotional Intelligence Predicts Academic Performance: A Meta-Analysis

Maccann, c., et al..

Students with high emotional intelligence get better grades and score higher on standardized tests, according to the research presented in this article in Psychological Bulletin (Vol. 146, No. 2). Researchers analyzed data from 158 studies representing more than 42,529 students—ranging in age from elementary school to college—from 27 countries. The researchers found that students with higher emotional intelligence earned better grades and scored higher on achievement tests than those with lower emotional intelligence. This finding was true even when controlling for intelligence and personality factors, and the association held regardless of age. The researchers suggest that students with higher emotional intelligence succeed because they cope well with negative emotions that can harm academic performance; they form stronger relationships with teachers, peers, and family; and their knowledge of human motivations and socialinteractions helps them understand humanities subject matter. DOI: 10.1037/bul0000219

5 interviews to listen to now

Psychology’s most innovative thinkers are featured on APA’s Speaking of Psychology podcast , which highlights important research and helps listeners apply psychology to their lives. The most popular episodes of 2020, as measured by the number of downloads in the first 30 days, were: 

• How to have meaningful dialogues despite political differences , with  Tania Israel, PhD
• Canine cognition and the survival of the friendliest , with  Brian Hare, PhD  
• The challenges faced by women in leadership , with  Alice Eagly, PhD
• How to choose effective, science-based mental health apps , with  Stephen Schueller, PhD  
• Psychedelic therapy , with Roland Griffiths, PhD  

Listen to all of the Speaking of Psychology episodes .

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Nih research matters.

December 22, 2020

2020 Research Highlights — Human Health Advances

Disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment .

With NIH support, scientists across the United States and around the world conduct wide-ranging research to discover ways to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. Groundbreaking NIH-funded research often receives top scientific honors. In 2020, these honors included one of NIH’s own scientists and another NIH-supported scientist who received Nobel Prizes . Here’s just a small sample of the NIH-supported research accomplishments in 2020.

Full 2020 NIH Research Highlights List

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COVID-19 vaccines and treatments

Since first appearing in China late last year, COVID-19 has become an ongoing global pandemic. NIH researchers quickly began testing potential treatments to help reduce the severity of the disease. Remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral treatment, showed early promise . Results from the completed trial in October showed that it shortened recovery time for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 . NIH research was also instrumental in determining which treatments, such as hydroxychloroquine , were ultimately not effective. Meanwhile, NIH researchers began developing vaccine candidates to protect against the disease. The first COVID-19 vaccine candidate tested in people , co-developed by NIH and the biotech company Moderna, Inc., triggered an immune response against the virus without serious side effects. An analysis in November found the vaccine was safe and well-tolerated, with a vaccine efficacy rate of 94.5% . The FDA approved it for emergency use in December. NIH also launched the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx SM ) initiative to speed innovation in COVID-19 testing. An NIH-funded COVID-19 home test was the first to receive over-the-counter authorization from the FDA.

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Comparing heart disease treatments

People with moderate to severe but stable heart disease may undergo invasive procedures, such as bypass surgery and stenting, or manage their condition with medication and lifestyle changes alone. A study showed that invasive procedures may offer better symptom relief and quality of life for some patients with chest pain. But for those who didn't have any symptoms, it was safe to begin treatment with non-invasive approaches. The findings may change clinical practice and official guidelines for treating patients.

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Combining tests more accurately diagnoses prostate cancer

The type of biopsy traditionally used to diagnose prostate cancer takes systematically spaced tissue samples from the prostate gland. This method isn’t targeted and can lead to uncertainty about whether a man has aggressive prostate cancer. Researchers found that adding MRI-targeted biopsies to the traditional prostate biopsy created a more accurate diagnosis and prediction of the course of prostate cancer. The approach is poised to help reduce both overtreatment and undertreatment of the disease.

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Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease

Having a simple blood test to detect Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms develop would aid the study of treatments to slow or stop its progression. Studies found that a protein called ptau181, which can be measured in the blood, was as good as invasive or expensive tests at diagnosing Alzheimer’s early . Another protein, called ptau217, was even better at predicting who would later develop the disease .  A type of brain imaging could also play a role in tracking disease development. These approaches could help identify people to participate in trials of early treatments or preventive strategies.

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Number of steps per day more important than step intensity

Walking is an easy way for many inactive people to ease into better health. A goal of 10,000 steps a day is common. A study found that adults who took at least 8,000 steps a day had a reduced risk of death over the following decade than those who only walked 4,000 steps a day. Step intensity (number of steps per minute) didn’t influence the risk of death, suggesting that the total number of steps per day is more important than intensity.

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Harnessing the health benefits of bacteria

Some types of bacteria cause disease, but others can help protect human health. A strain of bacteria called Lactobacillus crispatus was used as a treatment to prevent recurring bacterial vaginosis . In another study, treatment with the bacterium  Roseomonas mucosa,  taken from healthy human skin, improved eczema in children . These findings show the potential of harnessing the healthy human microbiome to prevent or treat disease.

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Multifocal contact lenses slow myopia progression in children

Myopia, also called nearsightedness, is a common vision problem, where close objects can be seen clearly but objects farther away appear blurry. In the U.S., myopia typically begins in childhood. Researchers found that children who wore certain multifocal contact lenses had slower progression of their myopia, or nearsightedness, over three years. The findings support using multifocal contacts to treat myopia in children, which could also help prevent other vision problems later in life.

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Biomarkers predict recovery from brain injury

More than a million people in the U.S. experience a mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, every year. Researchers found that military veterans with higher blood levels of a protein released by injured neurons were more likely to report long-term symptoms. More study is needed to confirm whether this could be used to predict who is at risk of long-term health problems after concussion. Two blood proteins were linked to the time needed by college athletes to return to play following a concussion. These biomarkers may help doctors predict which athletes need additional time to recover.

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ROLAND GRAD, MD, MSc, AND MARK H. EBELL, MD, MS

Am Fam Physician. 2021;104(1):41-48

Related letter: Should Muscle Relaxants Be Used as Adjuvants in Patients With Acute Low Back Pain?

Published online June 9, 2021.

Author disclosure: Dr. Grad has no relevant financial affiliations. Dr. Ebell is cofounder and editor-in-chief of Essential Evidence Plus; see Editor's Note.

This article summarizes the top 20 research studies of 2020 identified as POEMs (patient-oriented evidence that matters), including the two most highly rated guidelines of the year on gout and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Regarding COVID-19, handwashing and social distancing through stay-at-home orders or quarantine measures are effective at slowing the spread of illness. Use of proper face masks (not gaiters or bandanas) is also effective at preventing transmission. This is important because the virus can infect others during the presymptomatic phase. Aspirin can no longer be recommended for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Human papillomavirus vaccination is strongly associated with reduced risk of invasive cervical cancer, especially in women who were vaccinated before 17 years of age. When a woman who is postmenopausal has a screening bone mineral density test, rechecking the test after three years does not help to identify those who will have a fragility fracture. A higher daily step count is associated with lower all-cause mortality. After one year of follow-up, physical therapy is preferred to glucocorticoid injections for osteoarthritis of the knee; acetaminophen is ineffective for acute low back pain or pain due to knee or hip osteoarthritis; and adding a muscle relaxant to ibuprofen does not improve functional outcomes or pain in people reporting moderate to severe back pain one week after starting treatment. Although short-term antibiotics and steroids are effective in treating acute exacerbations of COPD, not much else is. Successful communication with patients seeking an antibiotic for a flulike illness can be achieved with combinations of messaging, including information on antibiotic resistance and the self-limiting nature of the illness. A new prediction rule effectively identifies patients with a history of penicillin allergy who have a low likelihood of positive findings on allergy testing. Low-value screening tests in asymptomatic, low-risk patients often lead to further testing, diagnostic procedures, or referrals. A new tool helps determine the amount of change needed to signify a real difference between two laboratory values in the same person over time. Finally, a pillar of our specialty, continuity of care, is associated with decreased all-cause mortality.

Annually for 22 years, a team of clinicians has systematically reviewed English-language medical journals to identify original research most likely to change and improve primary care practice. The team includes experts in family medicine, pharmacology, hospital medicine, and women's health. 1 , 2

The goal of this process is to identify POEMs (patient-oriented evidence that matters). A POEM must report at least one patient-oriented outcome, such as improvement in symptoms, morbidity, or mortality. It should also be free of important methodologic bias, making the results valid and trustworthy. Finally, if applied in practice, the results would change what some physicians do by prompting them to adopt a new practice or discontinue an old one that has been shown to be ineffective or harmful. Adopting POEMs in clinical practice should improve patient outcomes. Of more than 20,000 research studies published in 2020 in the journals reviewed by the POEMs team, 306 met criteria for validity, relevance, and practice change. These POEMs are emailed daily to subscribers of Essential Evidence Plus (Wiley-Blackwell, Inc.).

The Canadian Medical Association purchases a POEMs subscription for its members, many of whom receive the daily POEM. As these physicians read a POEM, they can rate it using a validated questionnaire. This process is called the Information Assessment Method ( https://www.mcgill.ca/iam ). POEM ratings address the domains of clinical relevance, cognitive impact, use of this information in practice, and expected health benefits if that POEM is applied to a specific patient. 3 , 4 In 2020, each of the 306 daily POEMs was rated by an average of 1,230 physicians.

In this article, we present the 20 most clinically relevant POEMs as rated by Canadian Medical Association members in 2020. This is the 10th installment of our annual series ( https://www.aafp.org/afp/toppoems ). As we write this article, the pandemic rolls on. However, beyond COVID-19, our patients continue to face the usual (and unusual) health problems of everyday life. Thus, we summarize the clinical question and bottom-line answer for research studies identified as a top 20 POEM, organized by topic and followed by a brief discussion. This set of 20 POEMs includes the two most relevant practice guidelines of the year. The full POEMs are available online at https://www.aafp.org/afp/poems2020 .

The year 2020 saw the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 illness, and 54 POEMs addressed the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of patients with COVID-19. Not surprisingly, the four most highly rated POEMs of the year and five in the top 20 provided evidence regarding preventive measures ( Table 1 ) . 5 – 10 These were published early in the pandemic and provided important evidence for family physicians to share with their patients.

The most highly rated POEM was originally published in 2015 and reissued in 2020 after the content was updated for COVID-19. The study was a large pragmatic trial in the United Kingdom that randomized participants to a brief online hand-washing intervention or usual care. Those who completed the intervention had fewer respiratory tract infections over the next four months (51% vs. 59%; P < .001; number needed to treat = 12). 5

The next COVID-19 POEM was a Cochrane review. 6 The authors reviewed the results of modeling studies of COVID-19 and previous coronavirus pandemics, as well as four observational studies. They concluded that quarantine measures are effective in slowing the spread of infection, especially when implemented early and in conjunction with other public health measures.

The third POEM summarized the results of two ecologic studies. The first compared COVID-19 incidence rates in eight Iowa counties that did not have stay-at-home orders with seven neighboring Illinois counties that had such orders in place. 7 The second compared a Georgia county that implemented stay-at-home orders approximately two weeks before the rest of Georgia with seven surrounding counties. 8 In both studies, earlier implementation of stay-at-home orders was associated with a lower incidence of COVID-19.

Another POEM summarized the results of one of the earliest studies to evaluate the effectiveness of different kinds of masks for preventing the spread of respiratory droplets. 9 Using laser technology, 14 types of masks were evaluated. Gaiters and bandanas were essentially useless, polypropylene and surgical masks were much better, and N95 masks were best.

An important factor in the rapid spread of COVID-19 was transmission by asymptomatic people. One of the first publications to report this was described in the next POEM. Chinese researchers studying infector-infectee transmission pairs found that the peak of infectiousness occurs about one day before symptom onset, and that 44% of secondary cases occur during the presymptomatic period. 10 Another study (not among the top 20 POEMs) reviewed cohorts in which the entire group was tested for COVID-19 during an outbreak and found that the rates of asymptomatic or presymptomatic infection are 75% or higher in young adult populations and approximately 40% overall. 11

Prevention and Screening

POEMs addressing prevention topics are summarized in Table 2 . 12 – 15 The first was a meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing aspirin with placebo as primary prevention. It compared four studies that recruited patients since 2005, with older studies that largely recruited patients in the 1980s and 1990s. The newer studies no longer found that patients taking aspirin for primary prevention have significant reductions in cancer incidence or mortality, cardiovascular mortality, or nonfatal myocardial infarction. Any benefits were countered by harms, such as increased gastrointestinal bleeding. 12 Perhaps we are doing a better job of screening for cancer and preventing cardiovascular events through use of statins and antihypertensives, lessening the need for aspirin in prevention.

We often tell our patients to walk more, but does walking affect mortality? The next POEM used data from a national sample of U.S. residents whose daily steps were measured between 2003 and 2006. 13 All-cause mortality was 77 per 1,000 person-years for those with less than 4,000 steps per day; 21 per 1,000 for those with 4,000 to 7,999 steps per day; 7 per 1,000 for those with 8,000 to 11,999 steps per day; and 4.8 per 1,000 for those with at least 12,000 steps per day. Step intensity was not significantly associated with mortality after controlling for total daily steps. Bottom line? Higher step counts are associated with lower all-cause mortality, suggesting our patients should keep walking. 13

When a woman who is postmenopausal has a screening bone mineral density test, the question arises about whether to repeat the test and, if so, how often? The third POEM in this group is a cohort study from the Women's Health Initiative, which showed that information gained from a second test three years after the first does not add predictive value beyond the first test result. Because bone density changes little over time, one bone mineral density test at around 65 years of age is likely to be sufficient for the purpose of screening to prevent a fragility fracture. 14

Studies have shown that human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination can reduce the likelihood of precancerous abnormalities identified on a Papanicolaou (Pap) test. The next POEM is a Swedish study that used data from a national health registry to compare the risk of invasive cervical cancer in 527,871 vaccinated women vs. 1,145,112 unvaccinated women. 15 After adjusting for differences between groups, the incidence rate ratio (IRR; the ratio of the incidence of cancer in vaccinated people to that in unvaccinated people) for invasive cervical cancer was 0.37 (95% CI, 0.21 to 0.57). For women who were vaccinated before 17 years of age, the IRR was only 0.12 (95% CI, 0.00 to 0.34), whereas for those vaccinated between 17 and 30 years of age, the IRR was 0.47 (95% CI, 0.27 to 0.75). HPV vaccination is strongly associated with a lower risk of invasive cervical cancer, especially when given early.

Musculoskeletal

Three POEMs addressing musculoskeletal topics are summarized in Table 3 . 16 – 19 The first is a study that randomized adults with knee osteoarthritis to up to three corticosteroid injections or up to eight physical therapy sessions in the first six weeks, with additional sessions as needed. 16 The rapid and large improvement in the first month for both groups is somewhat surprising, with relatively little further improvement the rest of the year. This suggests regression to the mean may have contributed to the observed improvement (i.e., patients were identified when their arthritis was flaring up and would have improved no matter what). Also, the open-label design may have contributed to a Hawthorne effect (alteration of behavior by the participants of a study who know they are being observed) for those in the physical therapy group and a placebo effect for those in the injection group. A Cochrane review concluded that glucocorticoid injections are effective, although primarily in the two to four weeks following injection. 17 Overall, the physical therapy group did better at one year, with continued improvement, whereas the injection group plateaued after the first month. 16

The next POEM is a systematic review of randomized controlled trials of acetaminophen compared with placebo for pain relief in adults. 18 It showed that acetaminophen is more effective than placebo in providing some pain relief in patients with acute migraine and might be more beneficial than placebo (which also works well) for tension headaches. A single dose of acetaminophen is about twice as likely as placebo to reduce postpartum perineal pain, and it may be effective (but not as effective as other treatments) for acute renal colic. Importantly, acetaminophen is ineffective for patients with acute low back pain or pain due to knee or hip osteoarthritis.

The last POEM in this category addresses a drug class often prescribed for back pain. In people with moderate to severe low back pain who are taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen (up to 600 mg three times per day), does the addition of a muscle relaxant improve function or reduce pain? No. 19 This finding reminds us of an earlier randomized controlled trial from the same author that was a top POEM of 2015. At that time, we advised not adding cyclobenzaprine to naproxen for patients with acute low back pain. 20

Respiratory

Two top POEMs on respiratory topics are summarized in Table 4 . 21 , 22 One is a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of treatment in patients with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 21 This shows that antibiotics and corticosteroids are effective in treating acute exacerbations in outpatient and inpatient settings, regardless of the severity of the exacerbation. Current research does not provide good guidance on which antibiotic is best or on the optimal dose or duration of corticosteroid treatment. Notably, studies performed in critically ill patients were not included in this analysis.

The other POEM addresses the tricky issue of communicating with patients who appear to be seeking an antibiotic for a flulike illness. It is a randomized trial conducted online in the United Kingdom showing that patients receiving the combination of a fear-based message about increased antibiotic resistance and an empowering message are less likely to visit a physician for their next respiratory tract infection (45.1% to 46.1% vs. 29.2%; P < .001) and less likely to request an antibiotic (52.5% to 54.7% vs. 42.3%; P < .001) than those receiving only fear-based messaging. 22

Miscellaneous

Four top POEMs do not fall easily into a single category ( Table 5 ) . 23 – 26 The first is about a new clinical prediction rule to identify patients who report a penicillin allergy but are unlikely to have a true allergy if tested. The FAST rule is as follows—five years or less since the reaction: 2 points; anaphylaxis, angioedema, or severe cutaneous reaction: 2 points; treatment required for reaction: 1 point. Patients with a score of 0 have a less than 1% likelihood of a positive result on allergy testing, and those with a score of 1 or 2 have a 5% likelihood. 23

The COVID-19 pandemic upended medical practice, leading to large reductions in the use of health care services. For example, the Canadian Urological Association recommended the cessation of prostate-specific antigen screening for prostate cancer until the resolution of the pandemic. 27 In this context, the next POEM reminds us to avoid low-value screening tests in asymptomatic, low-risk patients because they often lead to further testing, diagnostic procedures, or referrals. 24 Specifically, screening tests in low-risk patients, such as chest radiography and electrocardiography in adults as part of an annual health examination and Pap tests in those younger than 21 years or older than 69 years, should be avoided.

How many patients still ask for annual blood tests despite physicians counseling them on the low yield for doing this? The next POEM was the top non–COVID-related POEM of 2020 for clinical relevance. 25 This POEM describes a new online tool ( https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m149 ) to illustrate the variability in a single laboratory value (such as the A1C test) and the amount of change needed to signify a real difference between two values in the same person over time. For example, given the variability inherent in total cholesterol measurements, it is difficult to detect a clinically important change within a one-year period.

Our final miscellaneous POEM is a systematic review of the value of a pillar of family medicine—personal continuity of care. This is defined by an ongoing relationship with a physician that builds the physician-patient relationship and promotes the healing power of interactions. This core principle of family medicine stands up to scientific scrutiny by demonstrating an associated reduction in mortality. 26

Practice Guidelines

POEMs sometimes summarize high-impact clinical practice guidelines. Key messages from the two highest rated guidelines, addressing gout and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are summarized in Table 6 . 28 , 29

The full text of the POEMs discussed in this article is available at https://www.aafp.org/afp/poems2020 .

A list of top POEMs from previous years is available at https://www.aafp.org/afp/toppoems .

Editor's Note: This article was cowritten by Dr. Mark Ebell, deputy editor for evidence-based medicine for AFP and cofounder and editor-in-chief of Essential Evidence Plus, published by Wiley-Blackwell, Inc. Because of Dr. Ebell's dual roles and ties to Essential Evidence Plus, the concept for this article was independently reviewed and approved by a group of AFP 's medical editors. In addition, the article underwent peer review and editing by three of AFP 's medical editors. Dr. Ebell was not involved in the editorial decision-making process.—Sumi Sexton, MD, Editor-in-Chief

The authors thank Wiley-Blackwell, Inc., for giving permission to excerpt the POEMs; Drs. Allen Shaughnessy, Henry Barry, David Slawson, Nita Kulkarni, and Linda Speer for selecting and writing the original POEMs; the academic family medicine fellows and faculty of the University of Missouri–Columbia for their work as peer reviewers; Joulé, Inc., for supporting the POEMs CME program in Canada; Pierre Pluye, PhD, for codeveloping the Information Assessment Method; and Maria Vlasak for her assistance with copyediting the POEMs.

Shaughnessy AF, Slawson DC, Bennett JH. Becoming an information master: a guidebook to the medical information jungle. J Fam Pract. 1994;39(5):489-499.

Ebell MH, Barry HC, Slawson DC, et al. Finding POEMs in the medical literature. J Fam Pract. 1999;48(5):350-355.

Grad RM, Pluye P, Mercer J, et al. Impact of research-based synopses delivered as daily e-mail: a prospective observational study. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2008;15(2):240-245.

Pluye P, Grad RM, Johnson-Lafleur J, et al. Evaluation of email alerts in practice: part 2. Validation of the information assessment method. J Eval Clin Pract. 2010;16(6):1236-1243.

Little P, Stuart B, Hobbs FDR, et al. An internet-delivered handwashing intervention to modify influenza-like illness and respiratory infection transmission (PRIMIT): a primary care randomised trial [published correction appears in Lancet . 2015;386(10004):1630]. Lancet. 2015;386(10004):1631-1639.

Nussbaumer-Streit B, Mayr V, Dobrescu AI, et al. Quarantine alone or in combination with other public health measures to control COVID-19: a rapid review. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020(4):CD013574.

Lyu W, Wehby GL. Comparison of estimated rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in border counties in Iowa without a stay-at-home order and border counties in Illinois with a stay-at-home order. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(5):e2011102.

Ebell MH, Bagwell-Adams G. Mandatory social distancing associated with increased doubling time: an example using hyperlocal data. Am J Prev Med. 2020;59(1):140-142.

Fischer EP, Fischer MC, Grass D, et al. Low-cost measurement of face mask efficacy for filtering expelled droplets during speech. Sci Adv. 2020;6(36):eabd3083.

He X, Lau EHY, Wu P, et al. Temporal dynamics in viral shedding and transmissibility of COVID-19 [published correction appears in Nat Med . 2020;26(9):1491–1493]. Nat Med. 2020;26(5):672-675.

Oran DP, Topol EJ. Prevalence of asymptomatic SARSCoV-2 infection: a narrative review. Ann Intern Med. 2020;173(5):362-367.

Moriarty F, Ebell MH. A comparison of contemporary versus older studies of aspirin for primary prevention. Fam Pract. 2020;37(3):290-296.

Saint-Maurice PF, Troiano RP, Bassett DR, et al. Association of daily step count and step intensity with mortality among US adults. JAMA. 2020;323(12):1151-1160.

Crandall CJ, Larson J, Wright NC, et al. Serial bone density measurement and incident fracture risk discrimination in postmenopausal women. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;180(9):1232-1240.

Lei J, Ploner A, Elfström KM, et al. HPV vaccination and the risk of invasive cervical cancer. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(14):1340-1348.

Deyle GD, Allen CS, Allison SC, et al. Physical therapy versus glucocorticoid injection for osteoarthritis of the knee. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(15):1420-1429.

Jüni P, Hari R, Rutjes AWS, et al. Intra-articular corticosteroid for knee osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015(10):CD005328.

Saragiotto BT, Abdel Shaheed C, Maher CG. Paracetamol for pain in adults. BMJ. 2019;367:l6693.

Friedman BW, Irizarry E, Solorzano C, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of ibuprofen plus metaxalone, tizanidine, or baclofen for acute low back pain. Ann Emerg Med. 2019;74(4):512-520.

Friedman BW, Dym AA, Davitt M, et al. Naproxen with cyclobenzaprine, oxycodone/acetaminophen, or placebo for treating acute low back pain: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2015;314(15):1572-1580.

Dobler CC, Morrow AS, Beuschel B, et al. Pharmacologic therapies in patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2020;172(6):413-422.

Roope LSJ, Tonkin-Crine S, Herd N, et al. Reducing expectations for antibiotics in primary care: a randomised experiment to test the response to fear-based messages about antimicrobial resistance. BMC Med. 2020;18(1):110.

Trubiano JA, Vogrin S, Chua KYL, et al. Development and validation of a penicillin allergy clinical decision rule. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;180(5):745-752.

Bouck Z, Calzavara AJ, Ivers NM, et al. Association of low-value testing with subsequent health care use and clinical outcomes among low-risk primary care outpatients undergoing an annual health examination. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;180(7):973-983.

McCormack JP, Holmes DT. Your results may vary: the imprecision of medical measurements. BMJ. 2020;368:m149.

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Kokorovic A, So AI, Hotte SJ, et al. A Canadian framework for managing prostate cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: recommendations from the Canadian Urologic Oncology Group and the Canadian Urological Association. Can Urol Assoc J. 2020;14(6):163-168.

FitzGerald JD, Dalbeth N, Mikuls T, et al. 2020 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Management of Gout [published correction appears in Arthritis Rheumatol . 2021;73(3):413]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020;72(6):879-895.

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1000+ FREE Research Topics & Title Ideas

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How To Find A Research Topic

If you’re struggling to get started, this step-by-step video tutorial will help you find the perfect research topic.

Research Topic FAQs

What (exactly) is a research topic.

A research topic is the subject of a research project or study – for example, a dissertation or thesis. A research topic typically takes the form of a problem to be solved, or a question to be answered.

A good research topic should be specific enough to allow for focused research and analysis. For example, if you are interested in studying the effects of climate change on agriculture, your research topic could focus on how rising temperatures have impacted crop yields in certain regions over time.

To learn more about the basics of developing a research topic, consider our free research topic ideation webinar.

What constitutes a good research topic?

A strong research topic comprises three important qualities : originality, value and feasibility.

• Originality – a good topic explores an original area or takes a novel angle on an existing area of study.
• Value – a strong research topic provides value and makes a contribution, either academically or practically.
• Feasibility – a good research topic needs to be practical and manageable, given the resource constraints you face.

To learn more about what makes for a high-quality research topic, check out this post .

What's the difference between a research topic and research problem?

A research topic and a research problem are two distinct concepts that are often confused. A research topic is a broader label that indicates the focus of the study , while a research problem is an issue or gap in knowledge within the broader field that needs to be addressed.

To illustrate this distinction, consider a student who has chosen “teenage pregnancy in the United Kingdom” as their research topic. This research topic could encompass any number of issues related to teenage pregnancy such as causes, prevention strategies, health outcomes for mothers and babies, etc.

Within this broad category (the research topic) lies potential areas of inquiry that can be explored further – these become the research problems . For example:

• What factors contribute to higher rates of teenage pregnancy in certain communities?
• How do different types of parenting styles affect teen pregnancy rates?
• What interventions have been successful in reducing teenage pregnancies?

Simply put, a key difference between a research topic and a research problem is scope ; the research topic provides an umbrella under which multiple questions can be asked, while the research problem focuses on one specific question or set of questions within that larger context.

How can I find potential research topics for my project?

There are many steps involved in the process of finding and choosing a high-quality research topic for a dissertation or thesis. We cover these steps in detail in this video (also accessible below).

How can I find quality sources for my research topic?

Finding quality sources is an essential step in the topic ideation process. To do this, you should start by researching scholarly journals, books, and other academic publications related to your topic. These sources can provide reliable information on a wide range of topics. Additionally, they may contain data or statistics that can help support your argument or conclusions.

Identifying Relevant Sources

When searching for relevant sources, it’s important to look beyond just published material; try using online databases such as Google Scholar or JSTOR to find articles from reputable journals that have been peer-reviewed by experts in the field.

You can also use search engines like Google or Bing to locate websites with useful information about your topic. However, be sure to evaluate any website before citing it as a source—look for evidence of authorship (such as an “About Us” page) and make sure the content is up-to-date and accurate before relying on it.

Evaluating Sources

Once you’ve identified potential sources for your research project, take some time to evaluate them thoroughly before deciding which ones will best serve your purpose. Consider factors such as author credibility (are they an expert in their field?), publication date (is the source current?), objectivity (does the author present both sides of an issue?) and relevance (how closely does this source relate to my specific topic?).

By researching the current literature on your topic, you can identify potential sources that will help to provide quality information. Once you’ve identified these sources, it’s time to look for a gap in the research and determine what new knowledge could be gained from further study.

How can I find a good research gap?

Finding a strong gap in the literature is an essential step when looking for potential research topics. We explain what research gaps are and how to find them in this post.

How should I evaluate potential research topics/ideas?

When evaluating potential research topics, it is important to consider the factors that make for a strong topic (we discussed these earlier). Specifically:

• Originality
• Feasibility

So, when you have a list of potential topics or ideas, assess each of them in terms of these three criteria. A good topic should take a unique angle, provide value (either to academia or practitioners), and be practical enough for you to pull off, given your limited resources.

Finally, you should also assess whether this project could lead to potential career opportunities such as internships or job offers down the line. Make sure that you are researching something that is relevant enough so that it can benefit your professional development in some way. Additionally, consider how each research topic aligns with your career goals and interests; researching something that you are passionate about can help keep motivation high throughout the process.

How can I assess the feasibility of a research topic?

When evaluating the feasibility and practicality of a research topic, it is important to consider several factors.

First, you should assess whether or not the research topic is within your area of competence. Of course, when you start out, you are not expected to be the world’s leading expert, but do should at least have some foundational knowledge.

Time commitment

When considering a research topic, you should think about how much time will be required for completion. Depending on your field of study, some topics may require more time than others due to their complexity or scope.

Additionally, if you plan on collaborating with other researchers or institutions in order to complete your project, additional considerations must be taken into account such as coordinating schedules and ensuring that all parties involved have adequate resources available.

Resources needed

It’s also critically important to consider what type of resources are necessary in order to conduct the research successfully. This includes physical materials such as lab equipment and chemicals but can also include intangible items like access to certain databases or software programs which may be necessary depending on the nature of your work. Additionally, if there are costs associated with obtaining these materials then this must also be factored into your evaluation process.

Potential risks

It’s important to consider the inherent potential risks for each potential research topic. These can include ethical risks (challenges getting ethical approval), data risks (not being able to access the data you’ll need), technical risks relating to the equipment you’ll use and funding risks (not securing the necessary financial back to undertake the research).

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Top 50 cited articles on Covid-19 after the first year of the pandemic: A bibliometric analysis

Srinivas b.s. kambhampati.

a Sri Dhaatri Orthopaedic, Maternity & Gynaecology Center, 23, Lane 2, SKDGOC, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, 520008, India

Nagashree Vasudeva

Raju vaishya.

b Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, India

Mohit Kumar Patralekh

c Safdarjung Hospital and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, 110029, India

Background & aims

It has been just over a year since the Covid-19 pandemic started. The top 50 cited articles on this subject would help identify trends and focus on the research efforts.

We utilised e-utilities in PubMed to find publications on Covid-19 until the date of search on 7/2/21. The iCite website was used to find the top 50 citations of the output from the search strategy. We looked into their full text for the editorial dates, type of study, level of evidence, focus of the article and country of origin. We also counted the errata and comments on each of them.

The total number of citations of all 50 articles was 123,960, the highest being 10, 754 for a single article. Huang C was the most cited first author. They were published from week 4–17, with February being the month with most citations. Lancet was the most cited journal, having published 9 of the 50 articles. Majority belonged to level 3 of the evidence ladder and were retrospective studies. Thirty percent of them had an errata published and an average of 7 comments per article.

The top 50 most cited articles identify the most impactful studies on Covid-19, providing a resource to educators while identifying trends to guide research and publishing efforts. There has been an explosion of publications and an unprecedented rate and number of citations within the first year for any single condition in the literature.

1. Introduction

Covid-19 has affected humanity in a major way. An extremely dangerous virus, hitherto unknown to humanity, had to be studied and contained in order to overcome the pandemic. Research on Covid-19 had surged in the early days with an unprecedented surge in the publications on that specific topic. With vaccination drives in majorly affected countries, and the emergence of second and third waves, the interest on this topic in the scientific community has been sustained. Pubmed is the most commonly used and freely available database and most of the articles published on the Covid-19 topic in major journals were fast-tracked and made freely available for rapid dissemination of information and findings. Top 50 cited articles have been published in many areas of medicine. In fact there have been publications related to Covid-19 from an earlier period. The differences have been discussed in the discussion section of this manuscript. Due to the sheer volume of publications on this topic, there would be different outcome if two studies were done six months apart. We looked into the top 50 cited publications on this topic in the literature in the PubMed to analyse the trends and focus of research among the most cited articles.

A search was done on 7/2/21 with a search strategy of (COVID-19 OR SARS-CoV-2 OR “New Corona Virus” OR “coronavirus 2″ OR “new coronavirus”) AND ((“2020/01/01"[Date - Create]: “2021/01/01"[Date - Create]))

For all publications in 2020 which gave an output of 88337.

The strategy of (COVID-19 OR SARS-CoV-2 OR “New Corona Virus” OR “coronavirus 2″ OR “new coronavirus”) AND ((“2021/01/01"[Date - Create]: “3000"[Date - Create])) was used for all publications from 2021 which gave an output of 11855.

When this search strategy was fed through eUtilities, we got a total of 11853 + 87793 articles. The PMIDs of all these articles were fed into the iCite website for citations and related data, from which we got 95806 articles. Some articles were left out by the iCite website and were not processed.

The output from the iCite website was fed into Excel and analysed for citation numbers and other basic outcomes. The data from the iCite website includes information on Field Citation Ratio (FCR), expected citations, number of citations, PMIDs of all articles citing every article, total number of references and DOI (Digital Object Identifier) address for each of the article obtained from the search. We analysed this preceding data and present the results. We calculated citations per week, week number the article was published in the year and percentages where appropriate.

FCR is calculated by the number of citations received by a publication divided by the average number of citations received by publications within that field in the same year. PubMed page of each of the 50 articles was scanned to see the number of comments and errata published against each of them and noted.

The top 50 cited articles were selected from this output and full texts collected and analysed for the purpose of this paper. We looked into the following information from the full text of each manuscript: create date in PubMed, type of study, level of evidence, focus of the paper, month published, country it was published from, week of the year it was published.

We also looked into the following times (in days) of each article as given in their full text where applicable; (i) time from submission to accepting to publish, (ii) from acceptance to publication and (iii) from submission to publication. Any errata or comments on the articles on PubMed were also noted down. We collected the data and analysed it in an Excel database.

The total number of citations of the top 50 papers was 123,960. The top 50 cited publications were published between the weeks 4–17 of last year. Week five saw the most number of publications (8 in number) and most citations for publications, but publications from week four (6 publications) had the most citations per publication ( Table 1 ). February was the month with most publications of the top 50 cited and had the maximum total citations as well as citations per week among the four months these articles were published ( Table 2 ). Most publications were done in the month of February (19 in number) with a sum of citations of 53,204 for that month. However, the citations per publication was maximum for the month of January at 3862 per citation.

Table 1

Publications in Week number with Total Citations and citations/publication.

Cell highlighted with green and light orange indicates the highest value and lowest value in the corresponding column in all the tables where applicable.

Table 2

Publications according to the month of the year.

Most studies published were of level 3 evidence in the evidence pyramid with 27 (40%) in number. Studies of level 3 had the most citations per publication at 2930.35. Twelve of the thirteen retrospective analyses belonged to this category with a citation sum of 38,418. Since citations are a function of duration since publication, we looked at the sum of citations per publication per week (CPW). A level 2 study [ 1 ] had the highest at 200.223 followed by a level 3 study [ 2 ] with 151.02 CPW.

Cohort study was the commonest type of study with a citation sum of 51,574. Of them, 12 were of evidence level 3, and four of these belonged to evidence level 4. Nine of the articles were correspondence to the editor, making it the second commonest type of study.

Lancet was the most cited journal publishing on this topic ( Chart 1 .) Table 3 gives the numbers published by each journal with their impact factors.

Journals publishing with number of publications on the right and total citations on the left. Citations/publication of each journal were given in brackets.

Table 3

Journals publishing top 50 cited articles on Covid-19.

Totals ∗ Averages # ^Journal names are given using standard abbreviations.

A total of 24 journals published the 50 most cited articles on Covid-19. Half of these journals (12 in number) had an impact factor of >20 Table 3 . There were a total of 15 papers (30%) which published errata on PubMed. Of these, 12 articles were published in journals with an impact factor of 20 or higher.

China was the country with the most publications (31) and citations (92276) Chart 2 .

Most cited Countries Publishing on Covid-19. Numbers in brackets indicate number of publications and citations per week for that country.

Table 4 shows the Level of evidence with names of journals in each level of evidence that published on this topic. It is evident that the higher level of evidence studies were from the highest impact factor journals. The number of citations was also higher for these journals and they top each category of evidence. Standard abbreviations for the journals were used in the table. Level 3 had the highest number of citations and but citations per publication was highest for level 2 studies at 3709 followed by level 3 studies at 2930. Level 5 studies included opinions and Letters to the editors. Some level 5 articles received more number of citations than some level 1 and 2 articles. Huang C was the most cited first author at 10,754 citations followed by Guan WJ Table 5 .

Table 4

Level of Evidence with journals in each level along with the numbers and citations of publications.

Table 5

Top 10 authors on Covid-19.

Table 6 shows the speciality-wise distribution of publications, citations and citations per week. Not surprisingly, Pulmonology was the speciality that topped the list. In fact, the first four entries in the table are expected to be high as major work on this topic was done in those fields. These were followed by molecular sciences and internal medicine.

Table 6

Publications and citations according to speciality.

The studies were analysed and categorised according to the focus of the study to give a comprehensive idea about the research trends, as shown in Table 7 . Majority of the papers describe the clinical data, which included the timeline of the disease, demographics of the patients, risk factor analysis, clinical features, blood and radiological investigations, treatment protocols used, prognostic factors, predictors of mortality, psychological impact and the outcomes.

Table 7

Publications according to the focus of the study.

One article was a consensus of the Coronaviridae Study Group (CSG) of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses to name the virus as 2019-nCoV and individual isolates as SARS-CoV-2. 4 studies detailed the diagnostic aspect of the disease. These included proving a diagnostic workflow of the disease, identification of the nCov-19 in body fluids and assessment of viral loads, analysing sensitivity and specificity of the RT-PCR and CT scans in the diagnosis. Twelve studies described the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19. These studies described the aetiology and source of origin, modes of transmission, incubation period, timeline of the outbreak, epidemiologic curve and doubling time, stability of nCov19 in aerosols and other surfaces, tracking of the disease and geographical distribution of the outbreak. Some of the epidemiological studies focussed on the clinical data as well. The epidemiological data is very beneficial for the authorities to draft public health policies such as quarantine guidelines. Three studies focussed on providing various aspects of pathological findings. Two of them were post-mortem analyses detailing the histopathology of various organs, whereas the other study described the immune pathways and their dysregulation. Six studies carried out a detailed structural analysis of the virus. They provide insights into full-length genome sequencing, cell receptors, pathogenic mechanisms at the cellular level, phylogenetic origin and, antibody testing. This information identifies potential targets for developing diagnostic tests, vaccines, and anti-viral drugs, accelerating the countermeasure development. The remaining seven studies concentrated on therapeutic interventions. Various anti-viral agents were tested and compared to determine their applicability and efficacy. Three of them focussed on the coagulation profile abnormalities and stressed the importance of using anticoagulants in the treatment as the thrombotic phenomenon is associated with a worse prognosis.

Table 8 groups publications into clinical studies involving patients (clinical trials, case Series, Case Reports, RCTs), non-clinical publications (e.g. Correspondence letters, Reviews) and Basic Science studies (Lab studies, Non-human experimental research). Each of these categories have been classified according to the level of evidence in the table. Majority (60%) were clinical studies and the highest citations per article was seen for a clinical study at 2925.

Table 8

Publications grouped as clinical/non clinical and Basic sciences, each category classified according to the level of evidence.

4. Discussion

As of Feb 9, 2021, the top 50 cited papers were cited 123,960 times on PubMed. There was a study looking into the top 50 cited papers on this subject [ 3 ]. But this was done in May 2020 which was very early during the pandemic. We feel now that sufficient time has passed since onset of the pandemic, (just over a year since the pandemic started), it is an appropriate time for a relook into this topic, especially with reference to citation numbers. ElHawary et al. [ 3 ] reported 63,849 citations for the top 50 cited articles which is about half of what we found about nine months after they studied. They searched Web of science (WOS), Google Scholar and Scopus for their top 50 citations. Pubmed search was not done in their study. They reported that over half of the publications were done in just three journals. Retrospective case series and correspondence/viewpoints formed the bulk of publications at 42% and 26% respectively.

In another study by Yuetian Yu [ 4 ], done in May 2020, scanning WOS database, 3626 publications were identified on this topic. Martinez-Perez et al. [ 5 ] found 14,335 publications between January and July 2020 with 42,374 citations from WOS. Senel et al. [ 6 ] reviewed literature on publications on coronavirus from 1980 to 2019 and found only 13,833 publications with a peak publication year of 2016 having 837 publications. This study may be considered as the baseline level of interest on coronavirus before the current pandemic. We found a total of 99,646 articles before we filtered the top 50 cited articles. Our study looked into some publication metrics of the articles which the previous publications did not include. These included, apart from general bibliometric data, like citations, journal and author data, clinically relevant data like focus of the paper, type of study, level of evidence of the study, speciality, month and week of publication, and country from which it was published. Most studies looked into WOS since citations are readily given in that database whereas for PubMed, it requires to use a different portal to get citation numbers which is not common knowledge.

Since most of the top cited studies we found were from the early stages of the Pandemic, one could expect that retrospective analysis is the type of study that would be the most commonly done as information was still needed to define various aspects of the disease. It could also be expected that lower level evidence studies in the evidence ladder would be done at this stage as higher level studies need greater understanding about the disease before they can be planned. Citations for studies done later take time to increase and catch up.

In a previous publication [ 7 ], we found 6831 total publications in the first 3 months of the pandemic and 1638 in the last week of the study alone from PubMed. This outbreak of Coronavirus has triggered an interest in publications and research that has never been seen on this subject. The publication numbers on Covid-19 have dwarfed those from any other subject during the pandemic. Irmak et al. [ 8 ] did the only study looking into the top 50 cited articles on PubMed in May 2020. They studied citations and co-citations and mapped them using R statistical software and Gephi softwares. Our study is different from theirs. We wanted to look into the top cited papers and analyse metric data as stated above.

Since the Pandemic originated in China, preliminary studies from china were the most cited studies and hence this country topped the citation numbers among countries at 92,276 which is 74.4% of the total number of citations of all the 50 publications 4 . Thirty one of the fifty publications originated from China. The maximum number of these top-cited articles belong to the speciality of Pulmonology. It is not surprising, as the COVID-19 disease is primarily a respiratory disease.

It has been reported in a study that more than 50% of the publications looked into had cited two high profile articles published in high impact factor journals even after the articles were retracted from publication [ 9 ]. A mechanism may need to be put in place to identify and prevent retracted articles from being cited in future studies. This may perhaps be included in the reference manager as a feature and/or included in scanning of manuscripts while submitting in the editorial manager of a journal.

We looked at the PubMed page of each article for the number of comments and errata Table 3 . Fifteen publications (30%) had at least one erratum published and of these, two articles had two errata on them. We are not aware of the average number errata published on PubMed, but 30% in the top 50 cited quality articles appears high. One study reported 19% studies containing errata among 127 studied [ 10 ]. They classified them into trivial, minor and major. Since errata are usually published after a time lag, for a fast evolving pandemic like the Covid-19, studies with major errata which could potentially change the conclusion of the study should be minimized so that further studies do not use any wrong conclusions. Their occurrence could be due to fast tracking of the articles on Covid-19 by most journals which reduces the reviewing times and also the deluge of submissions for publication [ 7 , 11 , 12 ].

We looked at the times related to publishing these articles ( Table 3 ). Not all journals give this data. From the data that was available, most journals appear to have fast tracked the publication process with an average time for submission to accepting at 10.9 days, acceptance to publication at 6.2 days and from submission to publication at just over two weeks (16.3 days).

The total number of comments published were 303 in all 50 publications with an average of 7.97 for each. Thirty eight of the top 50 cited had at least one comment published in PubMed. It indicates the level of interest the pandemic has evoked in the academic circles. It could also be due to free full text availability which encourages more researchers to be involved in the discussions.

All the articles in this study were published as open access and were freely available. Covid-19 publications in most major journals have been fast tracked and published open access for faster dissemination of knowledge and control of the pandemic. This could be one reason why the citation numbers have been so high. Shekhani et al. found open access provided a low magnitude but a significant correlation to high citation rate for manuscripts [ 13 ]. The most cited publication in the top 50, with a citation count of 10,754 in our study was by Huang C et al. [ 1 ].

5. Limitations

Limitations of our study include the fact that this study looked into a single database, namely PubMed. This has not been done in any of the previous studies. Most studies on citations looked into WOS. Although the citation number may be different from database to database, we believe the overall trends may be similar. But we do not have data to support this point. We could not compare with other studies to prove this because they were done at a different point of time.

6. Conclusions

There has been an explosion of publications on this topic and an unprecedented rate of citations within the first year for any condition in the literature. Chinese authors published on COVID-19 maximally, and Pulmonology was the medical speciality on which the articles were written and maximally by the Chinese authors. Majority of the publications focussed on the clinical data of the condition. The high-impact journals published these top-cited articles. The results identify impactful articles on Covid-19, providing a resource to educators while identifying trends that may be used to guide research and publishing efforts.

Declaration of competing interest

There is no conflict of interest to disclose for any of the authors.

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The 10 Most Significant Education Studies of 2020

We reviewed hundreds of educational studies in 2020 and then highlighted 10 of the most significant—covering topics from virtual learning to the reading wars and the decline of standardized tests.

In the month of March of 2020, the year suddenly became a whirlwind. With a pandemic disrupting life across the entire globe, teachers scrambled to transform their physical classrooms into virtual—or even hybrid—ones, and researchers slowly began to collect insights into what works, and what doesn’t, in online learning environments around the world.

Meanwhile, neuroscientists made a convincing case for keeping handwriting in schools, and after the closure of several coal-fired power plants in Chicago, researchers reported a drop in pediatric emergency room visits and fewer absences in schools, reminding us that questions of educational equity do not begin and end at the schoolhouse door.

1. To Teach Vocabulary, Let Kids Be Thespians

When students are learning a new language, ask them to act out vocabulary words. It’s fun to unleash a child’s inner thespian, of course, but a 2020 study concluded that it also nearly doubles their ability to remember the words months later.

Researchers asked 8-year-old students to listen to words in another language and then use their hands and bodies to mimic the words—spreading their arms and pretending to fly, for example, when learning the German word flugzeug , which means “airplane.” After two months, these young actors were a remarkable 73 percent more likely to remember the new words than students who had listened without accompanying gestures. Researchers discovered similar, if slightly less dramatic, results when students looked at pictures while listening to the corresponding vocabulary. 

It’s a simple reminder that if you want students to remember something, encourage them to learn it in a variety of ways—by drawing it , acting it out, or pairing it with relevant images , for example.

2. Neuroscientists Defend the Value of Teaching Handwriting—Again

For most kids, typing just doesn’t cut it. In 2012, brain scans of preliterate children revealed crucial reading circuitry flickering to life when kids hand-printed letters and then tried to read them. The effect largely disappeared when the letters were typed or traced.

More recently, in 2020, a team of researchers studied older children—seventh graders—while they handwrote, drew, and typed words, and concluded that handwriting and drawing produced telltale neural tracings indicative of deeper learning.

“Whenever self-generated movements are included as a learning strategy, more of the brain gets stimulated,” the researchers explain, before echoing the 2012 study: “It also appears that the movements related to keyboard typing do not activate these networks the same way that drawing and handwriting do.”

It would be a mistake to replace typing with handwriting, though. All kids need to develop digital skills, and there’s evidence that technology helps children with dyslexia to overcome obstacles like note taking or illegible handwriting, ultimately freeing them to “use their time for all the things in which they are gifted,” says the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity.

3. The ACT Test Just Got a Negative Score (Face Palm)

A 2020 study found that ACT test scores, which are often a key factor in college admissions, showed a weak—or even negative —relationship when it came to predicting how successful students would be in college. “There is little evidence that students will have more college success if they work to improve their ACT score,” the researchers explain, and students with very high ACT scores—but indifferent high school grades—often flamed out in college, overmatched by the rigors of a university’s academic schedule.

Just last year, the SAT—cousin to the ACT—had a similarly dubious public showing. In a major 2019 study of nearly 50,000 students led by researcher Brian Galla, and including Angela Duckworth, researchers found that high school grades were stronger predictors of four-year-college graduation than SAT scores.

The reason? Four-year high school grades, the researchers asserted, are a better indicator of crucial skills like perseverance, time management, and the ability to avoid distractions. It’s most likely those skills, in the end, that keep kids in college.

4. A Rubric Reduces Racial Grading Bias

A simple step might help undercut the pernicious effect of grading bias, a new study found: Articulate your standards clearly before you begin grading, and refer to the standards regularly during the assessment process.

In 2020, more than 1,500 teachers were recruited and asked to grade a writing sample from a fictional second-grade student. All of the sample stories were identical—but in one set, the student mentions a family member named Dashawn, while the other set references a sibling named Connor.

Teachers were 13 percent more likely to give the Connor papers a passing grade, revealing the invisible advantages that many students unknowingly benefit from. When grading criteria are vague, implicit stereotypes can insidiously “fill in the blanks,” explains the study’s author. But when teachers have an explicit set of criteria to evaluate the writing—asking whether the student “provides a well-elaborated recount of an event,” for example—the difference in grades is nearly eliminated.

5. What Do Coal-Fired Power Plants Have to Do With Learning? Plenty

When three coal-fired plants closed in the Chicago area, student absences in nearby schools dropped by 7 percent, a change largely driven by fewer emergency room visits for asthma-related problems. The stunning finding, published in a 2020 study from Duke and Penn State, underscores the role that often-overlooked environmental factors—like air quality, neighborhood crime, and noise pollution—have in keeping our children healthy and ready to learn.

At scale, the opportunity cost is staggering: About 2.3 million children in the United States still attend a public elementary or middle school located within 10 kilometers of a coal-fired plant.

The study builds on a growing body of research that reminds us that questions of educational equity do not begin and end at the schoolhouse door. What we call an achievement gap is often an equity gap, one that “takes root in the earliest years of children’s lives,” according to a 2017 study . We won’t have equal opportunity in our schools, the researchers admonish, until we are diligent about confronting inequality in our cities, our neighborhoods—and ultimately our own backyards.

6. Students Who Generate Good Questions Are Better Learners

Some of the most popular study strategies—highlighting passages, rereading notes, and underlining key sentences—are also among the least effective. A 2020 study highlighted a powerful alternative: Get students to generate questions about their learning, and gradually press them to ask more probing questions.

In the study, students who studied a topic and then generated their own questions scored an average of 14 percentage points higher on a test than students who used passive strategies like studying their notes and rereading classroom material. Creating questions, the researchers found, not only encouraged students to think more deeply about the topic but also strengthened their ability to remember what they were studying.

There are many engaging ways to have students create highly productive questions : When creating a test, you can ask students to submit their own questions, or you can use the Jeopardy! game as a platform for student-created questions.

7. Did a 2020 Study Just End the ‘Reading Wars’?

One of the most widely used reading programs was dealt a severe blow when a panel of reading experts concluded that it “would be unlikely to lead to literacy success for all of America’s public schoolchildren.”

In the 2020 study , the experts found that the controversial program—called “Units of Study” and developed over the course of four decades by Lucy Calkins at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project—failed to explicitly and systematically teach young readers how to decode and encode written words, and was thus “in direct opposition to an enormous body of settled research.”

The study sounded the death knell for practices that de-emphasize phonics in favor of having children use multiple sources of information—like story events or illustrations—to predict the meaning of unfamiliar words, an approach often associated with “balanced literacy.” In an internal memo obtained by publisher APM, Calkins seemed to concede the point, writing that “aspects of balanced literacy need some ‘rebalancing.’”

8. A Secret to High-Performing Virtual Classrooms

In 2020, a team at Georgia State University compiled a report on virtual learning best practices. While evidence in the field is "sparse" and "inconsistent," the report noted that logistical issues like accessing materials—and not content-specific problems like failures of comprehension—were often among the most significant obstacles to online learning. It wasn’t that students didn’t understand photosynthesis in a virtual setting, in other words—it was that they didn’t find (or simply didn't access) the lesson on photosynthesis at all.

That basic insight echoed a 2019 study that highlighted the crucial need to organize virtual classrooms even more intentionally than physical ones. Remote teachers should use a single, dedicated hub for important documents like assignments; simplify communications and reminders by using one channel like email or text; and reduce visual clutter like hard-to-read fonts and unnecessary decorations throughout their virtual spaces.

Because the tools are new to everyone, regular feedback on topics like accessibility and ease of use is crucial. Teachers should post simple surveys asking questions like “Have you encountered any technical issues?” and “Can you easily locate your assignments?” to ensure that students experience a smooth-running virtual learning space.

9. Love to Learn Languages? Surprisingly, Coding May Be Right for You

Learning how to code more closely resembles learning a language such as Chinese or Spanish than learning math, a 2020 study found—upending the conventional wisdom about what makes a good programmer.

In the study, young adults with no programming experience were asked to learn Python, a popular programming language; they then took a series of tests assessing their problem-solving, math, and language skills. The researchers discovered that mathematical skill accounted for only 2 percent of a person’s ability to learn how to code, while language skills were almost nine times more predictive, accounting for 17 percent of learning ability.

That’s an important insight because all too often, programming classes require that students pass advanced math courses—a hurdle that needlessly excludes students with untapped promise, the researchers claim.

10. Researchers Cast Doubt on Reading Tasks Like ‘Finding the Main Idea’

“Content is comprehension,” declared a 2020 Fordham Institute study , sounding a note of defiance as it staked out a position in the ongoing debate over the teaching of intrinsic reading skills versus the teaching of content knowledge.

While elementary students spend an enormous amount of time working on skills like “finding the main idea” and “summarizing”—tasks born of the belief that reading is a discrete and trainable ability that transfers seamlessly across content areas—these young readers aren’t experiencing “the additional reading gains that well-intentioned educators hoped for,” the study concluded.

So what works? The researchers looked at data from more than 18,000 K–5 students, focusing on the time spent in subject areas like math, social studies, and ELA, and found that “social studies is the only subject with a clear, positive, and statistically significant effect on reading improvement.” In effect, exposing kids to rich content in civics, history, and law appeared to teach reading more effectively than our current methods of teaching reading. Perhaps defiance is no longer needed: Fordham’s conclusions are rapidly becoming conventional wisdom—and they extend beyond the limited claim of reading social studies texts. According to Natalie Wexler, the author of the well-received 2019 book  The Knowledge Gap , content knowledge and reading are intertwined. “Students with more [background] knowledge have a better chance of understanding whatever text they encounter. They’re able to retrieve more information about the topic from long-term memory, leaving more space in working memory for comprehension,” she recently told Edutopia .

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Top academic titles of 2020.

We recently did a blog post on the Top Syndetics Unbound Titles of 2020 , covering what public-library patrons were searching for and finding in 2020. But what about academic libraries? This data was aggregated across libraries using Syndetics Unbound worldwide.

The picture is more complicated in academic libraries than public libraries. First, academic libraries differ from each other more than public ones do. Titles that head the list month after month at technical colleges may not even appear at a law or divinity library. Second, academic library usage is often spread out across larger collections and is less hit-driven. Although books like Delia Owens' Where the Crawdads Sing , Jeanine Cummins' American Dirt, and Michelle Obama's Becoming —top books on the public list—appear on the academic list too, they do so lower, and far lower as a percentage of all academic-library searches.

The Ranking

In place of hot fiction titles, core reference and textbooks dominate. Not only are the Publication Manual of the APA and the DSM-V first and second, but they were first and second in every month of 2020!

• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5
• Principles of Marketing by Philip Kotler
• Research Methods for Business Students by Mark N.K. Saunders
• Social Research Methods by Alan Bryman
• The Chicago Manual of Style by University of Chicago Press Staff
• A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge by Project Management Institute
• Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches by John W. Cresswell
• Pharmacology by H. P. Rang
• The Study Skills Handbook by Stella Cottrell
• Case Study Research: Design and Methods by Robert K. Yin
• Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity by Judith Butler
• Marketing Management by Philip Kotler
• International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences by James D. Wright
• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
• Leadership: Theory and Practice by Peter G. Northouse
• Research Methods in Education by Louis Cohen
• White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
• Doing Your Research Project by Judith Bell
• Business Research Methods by Alan Bryman
• Molecular Biology of the Cell by Bruce Alberts
• The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research by Norman K. Denzin
• Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach by Stuart J. Russell
• Macroeconomics by Olivier Blanchard
• Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
• Operations Management by Nigel Slack
• Orientalism by Edward W. Said
• Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers by Alexander Osterwalder
• Exploring Strategy by Gerry Johnson
• Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison by Michel Foucault

Two Waves of Anti-Racism Books

As in public libraries, books about race, policing and criminal justice jumped enormously in searches following the George Floyd protests, which began on May 26 in reaction to the homicide of George Floyd at the hands of police.

Unlike public libraries, however, academic libraries saw a second spike in searches as the Fall semester began and these books made their way into many syllabi. This was not just absolute usage numbers, which increase in the Fall. The chart below shows the percent of searches.

The books referenced are:

• The End of Policing by Alex S. Vitale
• Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
• White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
• How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
• The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
• Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

How Do We Know?

This data was collected by Syndetics Unbound. The search data is fully anonymized the day it is collected. As the Coronavirus lockdowns caused a significant drop in catalog searches, and Syndetics Unbound added new libraries continuously throughout the year, we levelled the playing field by treating all months as equal in size.

For more information about Syndetics Unbound, please visit Syndetics.com .

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Home » 500+ Qualitative Research Titles and Topics

500+ Qualitative Research Titles and Topics

Table of Contents

Qualitative research is a methodological approach that involves gathering and analyzing non-numerical data to understand and interpret social phenomena. Unlike quantitative research , which emphasizes the collection of numerical data through surveys and experiments, qualitative research is concerned with exploring the subjective experiences, perspectives, and meanings of individuals and groups. As such, qualitative research topics can be diverse and encompass a wide range of social issues and phenomena. From exploring the impact of culture on identity formation to examining the experiences of marginalized communities, qualitative research offers a rich and nuanced perspective on complex social issues. In this post, we will explore some of the most compelling qualitative research topics and provide some tips on how to conduct effective qualitative research.

Qualitative Research Titles

Qualitative research titles often reflect the study’s focus on understanding the depth and complexity of human behavior, experiences, or social phenomena. Here are some examples across various fields:

• “Understanding the Impact of Project-Based Learning on Student Engagement in High School Classrooms: A Qualitative Study”
• “Navigating the Transition: Experiences of International Students in American Universities”
• “The Role of Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Education: Perspectives from Teachers and Parents”
• “Exploring the Effects of Teacher Feedback on Student Motivation and Self-Efficacy in Middle Schools”
• “Digital Literacy in the Classroom: Teacher Strategies for Integrating Technology in Elementary Education”
• “Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices: A Case Study in Diverse Urban Schools”
• “The Influence of Extracurricular Activities on Academic Achievement: Student Perspectives”
• “Barriers to Implementing Inclusive Education in Public Schools: A Qualitative Inquiry”
• “Teacher Professional Development and Its Impact on Classroom Practice: A Qualitative Exploration”
• “Student-Centered Learning Environments: A Qualitative Study of Classroom Dynamics and Outcomes”
• “The Experience of First-Year Teachers: Challenges, Support Systems, and Professional Growth”
• “Exploring the Role of School Leadership in Fostering a Positive School Culture”
• “Peer Relationships and Learning Outcomes in Cooperative Learning Settings: A Qualitative Analysis”
• “The Impact of Social Media on Student Learning and Engagement: Teacher and Student Perspectives”
• “Understanding Special Education Needs: Parent and Teacher Perceptions of Support Services in Schools

Health Science

• “Living with Chronic Pain: Patient Narratives and Coping Strategies in Managing Daily Life”
• “Healthcare Professionals’ Perspectives on the Challenges of Rural Healthcare Delivery”
• “Exploring the Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19 on Frontline Healthcare Workers: A Qualitative Study”
• “Patient and Family Experiences of Palliative Care: Understanding Needs and Preferences”
• “The Role of Community Health Workers in Improving Access to Maternal Healthcare in Rural Areas”
• “Barriers to Mental Health Services Among Ethnic Minorities: A Qualitative Exploration”
• “Understanding Patient Satisfaction in Telemedicine Services: A Qualitative Study of User Experiences”
• “The Impact of Cultural Competence Training on Healthcare Provider-Patient Communication”
• “Navigating the Transition to Adult Healthcare Services: Experiences of Adolescents with Chronic Conditions”
• “Exploring the Use of Alternative Medicine Among Patients with Chronic Diseases: A Qualitative Inquiry”
• “The Role of Social Support in the Rehabilitation Process of Stroke Survivors”
• “Healthcare Decision-Making Among Elderly Patients: A Qualitative Study of Preferences and Influences”
• “Nurse Perceptions of Patient Safety Culture in Hospital Settings: A Qualitative Analysis”
• “Experiences of Women with Postpartum Depression: Barriers to Seeking Help”
• “The Impact of Nutrition Education on Eating Behaviors Among College Students: A Qualitative Approach”
• “Understanding Resilience in Survivors of Childhood Trauma: A Narrative Inquiry”
• “The Role of Mindfulness in Managing Work-Related Stress Among Corporate Employees: A Qualitative Study”
• “Coping Mechanisms Among Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder”
• “Exploring the Psychological Impact of Social Isolation in the Elderly: A Phenomenological Study”
• “Identity Formation in Adolescence: The Influence of Social Media and Peer Groups”
• “The Experience of Forgiveness in Interpersonal Relationships: A Qualitative Exploration”
• “Perceptions of Happiness and Well-Being Among University Students: A Cultural Perspective”
• “The Impact of Art Therapy on Anxiety and Depression in Adult Cancer Patients”
• “Narratives of Recovery: A Qualitative Study on the Journey Through Addiction Rehabilitation”
• “Exploring the Psychological Effects of Long-Term Unemployment: A Grounded Theory Approach”
• “Attachment Styles and Their Influence on Adult Romantic Relationships: A Qualitative Analysis”
• “The Role of Personal Values in Career Decision-Making Among Young Adults”
• “Understanding the Stigma of Mental Illness in Rural Communities: A Qualitative Inquiry”
• “Exploring the Use of Digital Mental Health Interventions Among Adolescents: A Qualitative Study”
• “The Psychological Impact of Climate Change on Young Adults: An Exploration of Anxiety and Action”
• “Navigating Identity: The Role of Social Media in Shaping Youth Culture and Self-Perception”
• “Community Resilience in the Face of Urban Gentrification: A Case Study of Neighborhood Change”
• “The Dynamics of Intergenerational Relationships in Immigrant Families: A Qualitative Analysis”
• “Social Capital and Economic Mobility in Low-Income Neighborhoods: An Ethnographic Approach”
• “Gender Roles and Career Aspirations Among Young Adults in Conservative Societies”
• “The Stigma of Mental Health in the Workplace: Employee Narratives and Organizational Culture”
• “Exploring the Intersection of Race, Class, and Education in Urban School Systems”
• “The Impact of Digital Divide on Access to Healthcare Information in Rural Communities”
• “Social Movements and Political Engagement Among Millennials: A Qualitative Study”
• “Cultural Adaptation and Identity Among Second-Generation Immigrants: A Phenomenological Inquiry”
• “The Role of Religious Institutions in Providing Community Support and Social Services”
• “Negotiating Public Space: Experiences of LGBTQ+ Individuals in Urban Environments”
• “The Sociology of Food: Exploring Eating Habits and Food Practices Across Cultures”
• “Work-Life Balance Challenges Among Dual-Career Couples: A Qualitative Exploration”
• “The Influence of Peer Networks on Substance Use Among Adolescents: A Community Study”

Business and Management

• “Navigating Organizational Change: Employee Perceptions and Adaptation Strategies in Mergers and Acquisitions”
• “Corporate Social Responsibility: Consumer Perceptions and Brand Loyalty in the Retail Sector”
• “Leadership Styles and Organizational Culture: A Comparative Study of Tech Startups”
• “Workplace Diversity and Inclusion: Best Practices and Challenges in Multinational Corporations”
• “Consumer Trust in E-commerce: A Qualitative Study of Online Shopping Behaviors”
• “The Gig Economy and Worker Satisfaction: Exploring the Experiences of Freelance Professionals”
• “Entrepreneurial Resilience: Success Stories and Lessons Learned from Failed Startups”
• “Employee Engagement and Productivity in Remote Work Settings: A Post-Pandemic Analysis”
• “Brand Storytelling: How Narrative Strategies Influence Consumer Engagement”
• “Sustainable Business Practices: Stakeholder Perspectives in the Fashion Industry”
• “Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges in Global Teams: Strategies for Effective Collaboration”
• “Innovative Workspaces: The Impact of Office Design on Creativity and Collaboration”
• “Consumer Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Customer Service: A Qualitative Exploration”
• “The Role of Mentoring in Career Development: Insights from Women in Leadership Positions”
• “Agile Management Practices: Adoption and Impact in Traditional Industries”

Environmental Studies

• “Community-Based Conservation Efforts in Tropical Rainforests: A Qualitative Study of Local Perspectives and Practices”
• “Urban Sustainability Initiatives: Exploring Resident Participation and Impact in Green City Projects”
• “Perceptions of Climate Change Among Indigenous Populations: Insights from Traditional Ecological Knowledge”
• “Environmental Justice and Industrial Pollution: A Case Study of Community Advocacy and Response”
• “The Role of Eco-Tourism in Promoting Conservation Awareness: Perspectives from Tour Operators and Visitors”
• “Sustainable Agriculture Practices Among Smallholder Farmers: Challenges and Opportunities”
• “Youth Engagement in Climate Action Movements: Motivations, Perceptions, and Outcomes”
• “Corporate Environmental Responsibility: A Qualitative Analysis of Stakeholder Expectations and Company Practices”
• “The Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Ecosystems: Community Awareness and Behavioral Change”
• “Renewable Energy Adoption in Rural Communities: Barriers, Facilitators, and Social Implications”
• “Water Scarcity and Community Adaptation Strategies in Arid Regions: A Grounded Theory Approach”
• “Urban Green Spaces: Public Perceptions and Use Patterns in Megacities”
• “Environmental Education in Schools: Teachers’ Perspectives on Integrating Sustainability into Curricula”
• “The Influence of Environmental Activism on Policy Change: Case Studies of Grassroots Campaigns”
• “Cultural Practices and Natural Resource Management: A Qualitative Study of Indigenous Stewardship Models”

Anthropology

• “Kinship and Social Organization in Matrilineal Societies: An Ethnographic Study”
• “Rituals and Beliefs Surrounding Death and Mourning in Diverse Cultures: A Comparative Analysis”
• “The Impact of Globalization on Indigenous Languages and Cultural Identity”
• “Food Sovereignty and Traditional Agricultural Practices Among Indigenous Communities”
• “Navigating Modernity: The Integration of Traditional Healing Practices in Contemporary Healthcare Systems”
• “Gender Roles and Equality in Hunter-Gatherer Societies: An Anthropological Perspective”
• “Sacred Spaces and Religious Practices: An Ethnographic Study of Pilgrimage Sites”
• “Youth Subcultures and Resistance: An Exploration of Identity and Expression in Urban Environments”
• “Cultural Constructions of Disability and Inclusion: A Cross-Cultural Analysis”
• “Interethnic Marriages and Cultural Syncretism: Case Studies from Multicultural Societies”
• “The Role of Folklore and Storytelling in Preserving Cultural Heritage”
• “Economic Anthropology of Gift-Giving and Reciprocity in Tribal Communities”
• “Digital Anthropology: The Role of Social Media in Shaping Political Movements”
• “Migration and Diaspora: Maintaining Cultural Identity in Transnational Communities”
• “Cultural Adaptations to Climate Change Among Coastal Fishing Communities”

Communication Studies

• “The Dynamics of Family Communication in the Digital Age: A Qualitative Inquiry”
• “Narratives of Identity and Belonging in Diaspora Communities Through Social Media”
• “Organizational Communication and Employee Engagement: A Case Study in the Non-Profit Sector”
• “Cultural Influences on Communication Styles in Multinational Teams: An Ethnographic Approach”
• “Media Representation of Women in Politics: A Content Analysis and Audience Perception Study”
• “The Role of Communication in Building Sustainable Community Development Projects”
• “Interpersonal Communication in Online Dating: Strategies, Challenges, and Outcomes”
• “Public Health Messaging During Pandemics: A Qualitative Study of Community Responses”
• “The Impact of Mobile Technology on Parent-Child Communication in the Digital Era”
• “Crisis Communication Strategies in the Hospitality Industry: A Case Study of Reputation Management”
• “Narrative Analysis of Personal Stories Shared on Mental Health Blogs”
• “The Influence of Podcasts on Political Engagement Among Young Adults”
• “Visual Communication and Brand Identity: A Qualitative Study of Consumer Interpretations”
• “Communication Barriers in Cross-Cultural Healthcare Settings: Patient and Provider Perspectives”
• “The Role of Internal Communication in Managing Organizational Change: Employee Experiences”

Information Technology

• “User Experience Design in Augmented Reality Applications: A Qualitative Study of Best Practices”
• “The Human Factor in Cybersecurity: Understanding Employee Behaviors and Attitudes Towards Phishing”
• “Adoption of Cloud Computing in Small and Medium Enterprises: Challenges and Success Factors”
• “Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management: A Qualitative Exploration of Potential Impacts”
• “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Personalizing User Experiences on E-commerce Platforms”
• “Digital Transformation in Traditional Industries: A Case Study of Technology Adoption Challenges”
• “Ethical Considerations in the Development of Smart Home Technologies: A Stakeholder Analysis”
• “The Impact of Social Media Algorithms on News Consumption and Public Opinion”
• “Collaborative Software Development: Practices and Challenges in Open Source Projects”
• “Understanding the Digital Divide: Access to Information Technology in Rural Communities”
• “Data Privacy Concerns and User Trust in Internet of Things (IoT) Devices”
• “The Effectiveness of Gamification in Educational Software: A Qualitative Study of Engagement and Motivation”
• “Virtual Teams and Remote Work: Communication Strategies and Tools for Effectiveness”
• “User-Centered Design in Mobile Health Applications: Evaluating Usability and Accessibility”
• “The Influence of Technology on Work-Life Balance: Perspectives from IT Professionals”

Tourism and Hospitality

• “Exploring the Authenticity of Cultural Heritage Tourism in Indigenous Communities”
• “Sustainable Tourism Practices: Perceptions and Implementations in Small Island Destinations”
• “The Impact of Social Media Influencers on Destination Choice Among Millennials”
• “Gastronomy Tourism: Exploring the Culinary Experiences of International Visitors in Rural Regions”
• “Eco-Tourism and Conservation: Stakeholder Perspectives on Balancing Tourism and Environmental Protection”
• “The Role of Hospitality in Enhancing the Cultural Exchange Experience of Exchange Students”
• “Dark Tourism: Visitor Motivations and Experiences at Historical Conflict Sites”
• “Customer Satisfaction in Luxury Hotels: A Qualitative Study of Service Excellence and Personalization”
• “Adventure Tourism: Understanding the Risk Perception and Safety Measures Among Thrill-Seekers”
• “The Influence of Local Communities on Tourist Experiences in Ecotourism Sites”
• “Event Tourism: Economic Impacts and Community Perspectives on Large-Scale Music Festivals”
• “Heritage Tourism and Identity: Exploring the Connections Between Historic Sites and National Identity”
• “Tourist Perceptions of Sustainable Accommodation Practices: A Study of Green Hotels”
• “The Role of Language in Shaping the Tourist Experience in Multilingual Destinations”
• “Health and Wellness Tourism: Motivations and Experiences of Visitors to Spa and Retreat Centers”

Qualitative Research Topics

Qualitative Research Topics are as follows:

• Understanding the lived experiences of first-generation college students
• Exploring the impact of social media on self-esteem among adolescents
• Investigating the effects of mindfulness meditation on stress reduction
• Analyzing the perceptions of employees regarding organizational culture
• Examining the impact of parental involvement on academic achievement of elementary school students
• Investigating the role of music therapy in managing symptoms of depression
• Understanding the experience of women in male-dominated industries
• Exploring the factors that contribute to successful leadership in non-profit organizations
• Analyzing the effects of peer pressure on substance abuse among adolescents
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with disabilities in the workplace
• Understanding the factors that contribute to burnout among healthcare professionals
• Examining the impact of social support on mental health outcomes
• Analyzing the perceptions of parents regarding sex education in schools
• Investigating the experiences of immigrant families in the education system
• Understanding the impact of trauma on mental health outcomes
• Exploring the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy for individuals with anxiety
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful intergenerational relationships
• Investigating the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace
• Understanding the impact of online gaming on social skills development among adolescents
• Examining the perceptions of teachers regarding technology integration in the classroom
• Analyzing the experiences of women in leadership positions
• Investigating the factors that contribute to successful marriage and long-term relationships
• Understanding the impact of social media on political participation
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with mental health disorders in the criminal justice system
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful community-based programs for youth development
• Investigating the experiences of veterans in accessing mental health services
• Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health outcomes
• Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood obesity prevention
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful multicultural education programs
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in the workplace
• Understanding the impact of poverty on academic achievement
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with autism spectrum disorder in the workplace
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful employee retention strategies
• Investigating the experiences of caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease
• Understanding the impact of parent-child communication on adolescent sexual behavior
• Examining the perceptions of college students regarding mental health services on campus
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful team building in the workplace
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with eating disorders in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of mentorship on career success
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with physical disabilities in the workplace
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful community-based programs for mental health
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with substance use disorders in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of social media on romantic relationships
• Examining the perceptions of parents regarding child discipline strategies
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful cross-cultural communication in the workplace
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with anxiety disorders in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of cultural differences on healthcare delivery
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with hearing loss in the workplace
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful parent-teacher communication
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with depression in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of childhood trauma on adult mental health outcomes
• Examining the perceptions of college students regarding alcohol and drug use on campus
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful mentor-mentee relationships
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with intellectual disabilities in the workplace
• Understanding the impact of work-family balance on employee satisfaction and well-being
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with autism spectrum disorder in vocational rehabilitation programs
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful project management in the construction industry
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with substance use disorders in peer support groups
• Understanding the impact of mindfulness meditation on stress reduction and mental health
• Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood nutrition
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful environmental sustainability initiatives in organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with bipolar disorder in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of job stress on employee burnout and turnover
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with physical disabilities in recreational activities
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful strategic planning in nonprofit organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with hoarding disorder in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of culture on leadership styles and effectiveness
• Examining the perceptions of college students regarding sexual health education on campus
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain management in the retail industry
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with personality disorders in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of multiculturalism on group dynamics in the workplace
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic pain in mindfulness-based pain management programs
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful employee engagement strategies in organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with internet addiction disorder in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of social comparison on body dissatisfaction and self-esteem
• Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood sleep habits
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful diversity and inclusion initiatives in organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with schizophrenia in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of job crafting on employee motivation and job satisfaction
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with vision impairments in navigating public spaces
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful customer relationship management strategies in the service industry
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with dissociative amnesia in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of cultural intelligence on intercultural communication and collaboration
• Examining the perceptions of college students regarding campus diversity and inclusion efforts
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain sustainability initiatives in organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of transformational leadership on organizational performance and employee well-being
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with mobility impairments in public transportation
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful talent management strategies in organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with substance use disorders in harm reduction programs
• Understanding the impact of gratitude practices on well-being and resilience
• Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood mental health and well-being
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful corporate social responsibility initiatives in organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with borderline personality disorder in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of emotional labor on job stress and burnout
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with hearing impairments in healthcare settings
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful customer experience strategies in the hospitality industry
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with gender dysphoria in gender-affirming healthcare
• Understanding the impact of cultural differences on cross-cultural negotiation in the global marketplace
• Examining the perceptions of college students regarding academic stress and mental health
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain agility in organizations
• Understanding the impact of music therapy on mental health and well-being
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with dyslexia in educational settings
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful leadership in nonprofit organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in online support groups
• Understanding the impact of exercise on mental health and well-being
• Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood screen time
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful change management strategies in organizations
• Understanding the impact of cultural differences on international business negotiations
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with hearing impairments in the workplace
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful team building in corporate settings
• Understanding the impact of technology on communication in romantic relationships
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful community engagement strategies for local governments
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of financial stress on mental health and well-being
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful mentorship programs in organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with gambling addictions in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of social media on body image and self-esteem
• Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood education
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful virtual team management strategies
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with dissociative identity disorder in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of cultural differences on cross-cultural communication in healthcare settings
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic pain in cognitive-behavioral therapy programs
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful community-building strategies in urban neighborhoods
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with alcohol use disorders in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of personality traits on romantic relationships
• Examining the perceptions of college students regarding mental health stigma on campus
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful fundraising strategies for political campaigns
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with traumatic brain injuries in rehabilitation programs
• Understanding the impact of social support on mental health and well-being among the elderly
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in medical treatment decision-making processes
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful innovation strategies in organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with dissociative disorders in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of cultural differences on cross-cultural communication in education settings
• Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood physical activity
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful conflict resolution in family relationships
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with opioid use disorders in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of emotional intelligence on leadership effectiveness
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with learning disabilities in the workplace
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful change management in educational institutions
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with eating disorders in recovery support groups
• Understanding the impact of self-compassion on mental health and well-being
• Examining the perceptions of college students regarding campus safety and security measures
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful marketing strategies for nonprofit organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with postpartum depression in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of ageism in the workplace
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with dyslexia in the education system
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with anxiety disorders in cognitive-behavioral therapy programs
• Understanding the impact of socioeconomic status on access to healthcare
• Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood screen time usage
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain management strategies
• Understanding the impact of parenting styles on child development
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with addiction in harm reduction programs
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful crisis management strategies in organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with trauma in trauma-focused therapy programs
• Examining the perceptions of healthcare providers regarding patient-centered care
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful product development strategies
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with autism spectrum disorder in employment programs
• Understanding the impact of cultural competence on healthcare outcomes
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in healthcare navigation
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful community engagement strategies for non-profit organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with physical disabilities in the workplace
• Understanding the impact of childhood trauma on adult mental health
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain sustainability strategies
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with personality disorders in dialectical behavior therapy programs
• Understanding the impact of gender identity on mental health treatment seeking behaviors
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with schizophrenia in community-based treatment programs
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful project team management strategies
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder in exposure and response prevention therapy programs
• Understanding the impact of cultural competence on academic achievement and success
• Examining the perceptions of college students regarding academic integrity
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful social media marketing strategies
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with bipolar disorder in community-based treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of mindfulness on academic achievement and success
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with substance use disorders in medication-assisted treatment programs
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with anxiety disorders in exposure therapy programs
• Understanding the impact of healthcare disparities on health outcomes
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain optimization strategies
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with borderline personality disorder in schema therapy programs
• Understanding the impact of culture on perceptions of mental health stigma
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with trauma in art therapy programs
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful digital marketing strategies
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with eating disorders in online support groups
• Understanding the impact of workplace bullying on job satisfaction and performance
• Examining the perceptions of college students regarding mental health resources on campus
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful supply chain risk management strategies
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic pain in mindfulness-based pain management programs
• Understanding the impact of cognitive-behavioral therapy on social anxiety disorder
• Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and well-being
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with eating disorders in treatment programs
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful leadership in business organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic pain in cognitive-behavioral therapy programs
• Understanding the impact of cultural differences on intercultural communication
• Examining the perceptions of teachers regarding inclusive education for students with disabilities
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with depression in therapy programs
• Understanding the impact of workplace culture on employee retention and turnover
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with traumatic brain injuries in rehabilitation programs
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful crisis communication strategies in organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with anxiety disorders in mindfulness-based interventions
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in healthcare settings
• Understanding the impact of technology on work-life balance
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with learning disabilities in academic settings
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful entrepreneurship in small businesses
• Understanding the impact of gender identity on mental health and well-being
• Examining the perceptions of individuals with disabilities regarding accessibility in public spaces
• Understanding the impact of religion on coping strategies for stress and anxiety
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in complementary and alternative medicine treatments
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful customer retention strategies in business organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with postpartum depression in therapy programs
• Understanding the impact of ageism on older adults in healthcare settings
• Examining the perceptions of students regarding online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful team building in virtual work environments
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with gambling disorders in treatment programs
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in peer support groups
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful social media marketing strategies for businesses
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with ADHD in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of sleep on cognitive and emotional functioning
• Examining the perceptions of individuals with chronic illnesses regarding healthcare access and affordability
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with borderline personality disorder in dialectical behavior therapy programs
• Understanding the impact of social support on caregiver well-being
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in disability activism
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful cultural competency training programs in healthcare settings
• Understanding the impact of personality disorders on interpersonal relationships
• Examining the perceptions of healthcare providers regarding the use of telehealth services
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with dissociative disorders in therapy programs
• Understanding the impact of gender bias in hiring practices
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with visual impairments in the workplace
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful diversity and inclusion programs in the workplace
• Understanding the impact of online dating on romantic relationships
• Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood vaccination
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful communication in healthcare settings
• Understanding the impact of cultural stereotypes on academic achievement
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with substance use disorders in sober living programs
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful classroom management strategies
• Understanding the impact of social support on addiction recovery
• Examining the perceptions of college students regarding mental health stigma
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful conflict resolution in the workplace
• Understanding the impact of race and ethnicity on healthcare access and outcomes
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder in treatment programs
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful project management strategies
• Understanding the impact of teacher-student relationships on academic achievement
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful customer service strategies
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with social anxiety disorder in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of workplace stress on job satisfaction and performance
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with disabilities in sports and recreation
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful marketing strategies for small businesses
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with phobias in treatment programs
• Understanding the impact of culture on attitudes towards mental health and illness
• Examining the perceptions of college students regarding sexual assault prevention
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful time management strategies
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with addiction in recovery support groups
• Understanding the impact of mindfulness on emotional regulation and well-being
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with chronic pain in treatment programs
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful conflict resolution in romantic relationships
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with autism spectrum disorder in social skills training programs
• Understanding the impact of parent-child communication on adolescent substance use
• Examining the perceptions of parents regarding childhood mental health services
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful fundraising strategies for non-profit organizations
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses in support groups
• Understanding the impact of personality traits on career success and satisfaction
• Exploring the experiences of individuals with disabilities in accessing public transportation
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful team building in sports teams
• Investigating the experiences of individuals with chronic pain in alternative medicine treatments
• Understanding the impact of stigma on mental health treatment seeking behaviors
• Examining the perceptions of college students regarding diversity and inclusion on campus.

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Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Data from the Research and Development Survey (RANDS) have been used in a wide variety of research since the survey's launch in 2015. The first reports using RANDS data were published in 2017. The list of publications below highlights some of the many applications for RANDS data, such as—

• Developing and evaluating statistical methods for web surveys
• Assessing if web surveys can be used for measurement research
• Addressing missing data in surveys
• Exploring COVID-19's effect on healthcare access
• Scanlon, PJ. A Comparative study of approaches to collecting intimate partner violence data: Results from the National Center for Health Statistics' Research and Development Survey, Round 5. Findings-from-RANDS5-DRM-Research-Memo
• Scanlon, PJ. Findings from a series of National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG)-related experiments on the National Center for Health Statistic's Research and Development Survey, Round 6. Findings-from-RANDS6-DRM-Research-Memo
• Zhang G, He Y, Cai B, Moriarity C, Shin H-C, Parsons V, Irimata KE. Multiple imputation of missing data with skip-pattern covariates: a comparison of alternative strategies. J Stat Comput Simul. 2023. DOI: 1080/00949655.2023.2293124
• Irimata KE, Scanlon P, Moriarity C, Cai B, Beresovsky B, Wei R. Findings from RANDS 7. DRM Research Memo. 2023-04E
• Hu LYR, Scanlon P, Miller K, He Y, Irimata KE, Zhang G, Hibben KC. National Center for Health Statistics' 2019 Research and Development Survey, RANDS 3. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 1(65). 2023. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:13027
• Moron LP, Irimata KE, Parker JD. Comparison of mental health estimates by sociodemographic characteristics in the Research and Development Survey 3 and the 2019 National Health Interview National Health Statistics Reports; no 188. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2023. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:128964
• Smith Z, Cibelli Hibben K, Rogers B, Scanlon P, Hoppe T. Towards high-quality open-ended data: A Semi-Automated Nonresponse Detection model [news release]. April 12, 2023. Available from: https://aapor.org/news-releases/towards-high-quality-open-ended-data-a-semi-automated-nonresponse-detection-model/
• Irimata KE, He Y, Parsons VL, Shin H-C, Zhang G. Calibration weighting methods for the National Center for Health Statistics Research and Development Survey. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(199). 2023. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:123463
• Cibelli Hibben K, Smith Z, Rogers B, Ryan V, Scanlon P, Miller K, Hoppe T. Semi-Automated Nonresponse Detection for Open-Text Survey Data. 2023. DOI: 57967/hf/0414
• He Y, Zhang G. Multiple imputation analysis of missing complex survey data using SAS®: A brief overview and an example based on the Research and Development Survey (RANDS) . The Survey Statistician (newsletter) 87. 2023.
• Irimata KE, Pleis JR, Heslin KC, He Y. Reduced access to preventive care due to the COVID-19 pandemic, by chronic disease status and race and Hispanic origin, United States, 2020-2021. Public Health Reports 138(2): 341-348. 2023. DOI: 1177/00333549221138855
• Shin H-C, Parker J, Parsons V, He Y, Irimata K, Cai B, Beresovsky V. Propensity-score adjusted estimates for selected health outcomes from the Research and Development Survey. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(196). 2022. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:121708 .
• Li Y, Irimata K, He Y, Parker J. Variable inclusion strategies through directed acyclic graphs to adjust health surveys subject to selection bias for producing national estimates. J Off Stat 38(3):875–900. 2022.
• Irimata KE, Scanlon P. The Research and Development Survey (RANDS) during COVID-19. Stat J IAOS 38(1):13–21. 2022.
• Irimata KE, He Y, Cai B, Shin H-C, Parsons VL, Parker JD. Comparison of quarterly and yearly calibration data for propensity score adjusted web survey estimates. Surv Methods Insights Field. 2020. DOI: 10.13094/SMIF-2020-00018 .
• Parker J, Miller K, He Y, Scanlon P, Cai B, Shin H-C, et al. Overview and initial results of the National Center for Health Statistics' Research and Development Survey. Stat J IAOS 36(4):1199–1211. 2020. DOI: 3233/SJI-200678 .
• He Y, Cai B, Shin H-C, Beresovsky V, Parsons V, Irimata K, et al. The National Center for Health Statistics' 2015 and 2016 Research and Development Surveys . National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 1(64). 2020.
• Scanlon P. Cognitive evaluation of the National Center for Health Statistics' 2018 Research and Development Survey . National Center for Health Statistics Q-Bank. 2020.
• Scanlon P. The effects of embedding closed-ended cognitive probes in a web survey on survey response. Field methods 31(4):328–43. 2019. DOI: 10.1177/1525822X19871546 .
• Scanlon P. Using targeted embedded probes to quantify cognitive interviewing findings. In: Beatty PC, Collins D, Kaye L, Padilla JL, Willis GB, Wilmot A, editors. Advances in questionnaire design, development, evaluation, and testing. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 427–50. 2019. DOI: 10.1002/9781119263685.ch17 .
• He Y, Shin H-C, Cai B, Beresovsky V, Scanlon P, Parsons V, et al. The utility of using web surveys to provide official estimates for major health outcomes: A pilot study . In: 2018 Statistics Canada International Methodology Symposium Proceedings. Ottawa, Canada: Statistics Canada. 2018.
• Scanlon P. Cognitive evaluation of the 2015–2016 National Center for Health Statistics' Research and Development Survey . National Center for Health Statistics Q-Bank. 2017.
• Beresovsky V. Imputation classes as a framework for inferences from nonrandom samples. In: 2017 Proceedings of the Joint Statistical Meetings. Alexandria, VA: American Statistical Association, 2918–32. 2017.
• Singh AC, Beresovsky V, Ye C. Estimation from purposive samples with the aid of probability supplements but without data on the study variable . In: 2017 Proceedings of the Joint Statistical Meetings. Alexandria, VA: American Statistical Association, 3324–45. 2017.

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Religious composition of the world’s migrants, 1990-2020

This interactive table shows the estimated religious breakdown of immigrants to, and emigrants from, countries and regions of the world. Click the  “Living in”  button to see how many immigrants have moved into each country and remain there. Click the  “Born in”  button to see how many emigrants have moved away from each country and are living elsewhere.

You also can choose between counts and percentages (estimated number vs. % of all migrants). And you can toggle between decades to see how much change has occurred over time.

For an explanation of key findings and the methods we used to generate these estimates, read “The Religious Composition of the World’s Migrants.”

Pew Research Center also has estimated the religious composition of each country’s overall population .

The United Nations counts international migrants as people of any age who live outside their country (or in some cases, territory) of birth – regardless of their motives for migrating, their length of residence or their legal status.

In addition to naturalized citizens and permanent residents, the UN’s international migrant numbers include asylum-seekers and refugees, as well as people without official residence documents. The UN also includes some people who live in a country temporarily – like some students and guest workers – but it does not include short-term visitors like tourists, nor does it typically include military forces deployed abroad. 

For brevity, this report refers to international migrants simply as migrants. Occasionally, we use the term immigrants to differentiate migrants living in a destination country from emigrants who have left an origin country . Every person who is living outside of his or her country of birth is all three – a migrant, an immigrant and an emigrant.

The analysis in this report focuses on existing stocks of international migrants – all people who now live outside their birth country, no matter when they left. We do not estimate migration flows – how many people move across borders in any single year.

• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America-Caribbean
• Middle East-North Africa
• North America
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• United Arab Emirates
• Afghanistan
• Antigua and Barbuda
• American Samoa
• Åland Islands
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Burkina Faso
• Saint Barthélemy
• Caribbean Netherlands
• Bouvet Island
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands
• Central African Republic
• Republic of the Congo
• Switzerland
• Ivory Coast
• Cook Islands
• Christmas Island
• Czech Republic
• Dominican Republic
• Western Sahara
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• United Kingdom
• French Guiana
• Equatorial Guinea
• South Georgia
• Guinea-Bissau
• Heard Island and McDonald Islands
• Isle of Man
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• North Korea
• South Korea
• Cayman Islands
• Saint Lucia
• Liechtenstein
• Saint Martin
• Marshall Islands
• Northern Mariana Islands
• New Caledonia
• Norfolk Island
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• French Polynesia
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• Pitcairn Islands
• Puerto Rico
• Saudi Arabia
• Solomon Islands
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• Svalbard and Jan Mayen
• Sierra Leone
• South Sudan
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• El Salvador
• Sint Maarten
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• French Southern and Antarctic Lands
• Timor-Leste
• Turkmenistan
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United States Minor Outlying Islands
• United States
• Vatican City
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• British Virgin Islands
• United States Virgin Islands
• Wallis and Futuna
• South Africa

Note: “Other religions” includes Baha’is, Sikhs and many other religious groups that cannot be analyzed separately because of insufficient data. Myanmar is also called Burma.

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The mythical tie between immigration and crime

Opponents of immigration often argue that immigrants drive up crime rates. But newly released research from Stanford economist Ran Abramitzky and his co-authors finds that hasn’t been the case in America for the last 140 years.

The study reveals that first-generation immigrants have not been more likely to be imprisoned than people born in the United States since 1880.

Today, immigrants are 30 percent less likely to be incarcerated than are U.S.-born individuals who are white, the study finds. And when the analysis is expanded to include Black Americans — whose prison rates are higher than the general population — the likelihood of an immigrant being incarcerated is 60 percent lower than of people born in the United States. 

While other research has also debunked claims that immigration leads to more crime, this study of incarceration rates provides the broadest historical look at the relationship between immigration and crime across the country and over time, says author Abramitzky. Abramitzky is the Stanford Federal Credit Union Professor of Economics and senior associate dean of social sciences in the School of Humanities and Sciences, as well as a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research ( SIEPR ) .

The study is detailed in a working paper released by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Using U.S. Census Bureau data, it focuses on immigrants present in the Census regardless of their legal status and on men between the ages of 18 and 40.

“From Henry Cabot Lodge in the late 19th century to Donald Trump, anti-immigration politicians have repeatedly tried to link immigrants to crime, but our research confirms that this is a myth and not based on fact,” says Abramitzky, whose 2022 book, Streets of Gold: America’s Untold Story of Immigrant Success , examines the many misconceptions around immigration.

In their analysis of Census data from 1850 to 2020, Abramitzky and his co-authors find that, compared to U.S.-born individuals, immigrants as a group had higher incarceration rates before 1870 and similar rates between 1880 and 1950. Since 1960, however, immigrants have been less likely to be incarcerated than have the U.S.-born.

According to the study, this is the case for almost every region in the world that is a major source of immigrants to the United States. As of 2019, immigrants from China and eastern and southern Europe were committing the fewest number of crimes — as measured by incarceration rates — relative to U.S.-born individuals. 

The exception is Mexican and Central American immigrants, but the higher incarceration rates for this group since 2005 is largely attributed to the fact that the Census data combines incarceration for criminal acts with detentions for immigration-related offenses, the researchers say in the paper. Incarceration rates among Mexican and Central American immigrants were similar to those of U.S.-born individuals between 1980 and 2005. 

What’s more, comparing the imprisonment of Mexican and Central American immigrants to that of white males born in the United States based on education tells a different story, according to Abramitzky. Men without a high school degree are the group most likely to be incarcerated for criminal activity. “But Mexican and Central American immigrants with low levels of education, which comprise a large share of immigrants from this region, are significantly less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born men with similarly low levels of education,” he says.

Abramitzky’s co-authors include Leah Platt Boustan, an economics professor at Princeton and co-author of Streets of Gold ; Elisa Jácome, an assistant professor of economics at Northwestern and a former SIEPR postdoctoral fellow; Santiago Pérez, an associate professor of economics at the University of California, Davis; and Juan David Torres, a Stanford PhD student in economics and former predoctoral fellow at SIEPR .

Immigrants vs. U.S.-born: Different economic forces

In setting out to compare criminality over time, the researchers took on a big challenge: Finding credible evidence of a connection between immigration and crime — and over a long time period — is extremely difficult. Other studies have relied on arrests records, but those do not include immigration status or birthplace. They also include arrests for minor infractions, which can reflect police bias more than actual crimes.

Instead, Abramitzky and his collaborators chose to analyze incarceration rates, which they say are better indicators of serious crime because they often require a conviction. As their primary data source, they turned to decennial censuses and surveys from the U.S. Census Bureau, which include information on individuals in correctional facilities and their birthplace — thereby allowing the researchers to build what they say is the first nationally representative dataset of incarceration rates for immigrants and the U.S.-born going back 170 years.

The researchers say it’s not entirely clear why the data show that immigrants have been imprisoned at increasingly lower rates than U.S.-born males since 1960. 

“Many of the explanations we had in mind turned out to NOT be right when we looked at the data,” Abramitzky says. For example, examining differences in age, marital status, or education levels among immigrants didn’t provide a clue. Nor did changes in immigration policy or the states in which immigrants settled. 

It is also unlikely, he says, that deportations contributed to the relatively lower rates of immigrant incarcerations.

The researchers conclude the likely explanation is that first-generation immigrants are faring better overall (and not just with respect to incarceration rates) than are U.S.-born men — especially compared to those without a high school diploma.

Globalization and advances in technology have hit white males hard, especially those who were born in the United States and who didn’t finish high school. Compared to immigrants, they are much more likely to be unemployed, unmarried, and in poor health — and perhaps more prone to commit crimes as a result, Abramitzky says.

The manual jobs that immigrants typically take on have been stable by comparison. Other studies have shown that immigrants also are, among other characteristics, highly adaptable and resilient.

“Recent waves of immigrants are more likely to be employed, married with children, and in good health,” Abramitzky says. “Far from the rapists and drug dealers that anti-immigrant politicians claim them to be, immigrants today are doing relatively well and have largely been shielded from the social and economic forces that have negatively affected low-educated U.S.-born men.”

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Ships Now Spew Less Sulfur, but Warming Has Sped Up

Shipping emissions regulations enacted in 2020 improved air quality but accelerated warming, with more to follow in the near future 

Sulfur emissions can create thin, linear clouds that trace maritime shipping routes. These "ship tracks" reflect sunlight from Earth's surface, cooling the planet, but they're also a form of pollution. 

(Image: National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA])

RICHLAND, Wash.—Last year marked Earth’s warmest year on record. A new study finds that some of 2023’s record warmth, nearly 20 percent, likely came as a result of reduced sulfur emissions from the shipping industry. Much of this warming concentrated over the northern hemisphere.

The work , led by scientists at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , published today in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

Regulations put into effect in 2020 by the International Maritime Organization required a roughly 80 percent reduction in the sulfur content of shipping fuel used globally. That reduction meant fewer sulfur aerosols flowed into Earth’s atmosphere.

When ships burn fuel, they emit sulfur dioxide. Energized by sunlight, chemical intermingling in the atmosphere can spur the formation of sulfur aerosols. Sulfur emissions, a form of pollution, can cause acid rain. The change was made to improve air quality around ports.

In addition, water likes to condense on these tiny sulfate particles, ultimately forming linear clouds known as ship tracks , which tend to concentrate along maritime shipping routes. Sulfate can also contribute to forming other clouds after a ship has passed. Because of their brightness, these clouds are uniquely capable of cooling Earth’s surface by reflecting sunlight.

The authors used a machine learning approach to scan over a million satellite images and quantify the declining count of ship tracks, estimating a 25 to 50 percent reduction in visible tracks. Where the cloud count was down, the degree of warming was generally up. 

Further work by the authors simulated the effects of the ship aerosols in three climate models and compared the cloud changes to observed cloud and temperature changes since 2020. Roughly half of the potential warming from the shipping emission changes materialized in just four years, according to the new work. In the near future, more warming is likely to follow as the climate response continues unfolding. 

Many factors—from oscillating climate patterns to greenhouse gas concentrations—determine global temperature change. The authors note that changes in sulfur emissions aren’t the sole contributor to the record warming of 2023. The magnitude of warming is too significant to be attributed to the emissions change alone, according to their findings.

Due to their cooling properties, some aerosols mask a portion of the warming brought by greenhouse gas emissions. Though aerosols can travel great distances and impose a strong effect on Earth’s climate, they are much shorter-lived than greenhouse gasses. 

When atmospheric aerosol concentrations suddenly dwindle, warming can spike. It’s difficult, however, to estimate just how much warming may come as a result. Aerosols are one of the most significant sources of uncertainty in climate projections.

“Cleaning up air quality faster than limiting greenhouse gas emissions may be accelerating climate change,” said Earth scientist Andrew Gettelman, who led the new work.

“As the world rapidly decarbonizes and dials down all anthropogenic emissions, sulfur included, it will become increasingly important to understand just what the magnitude of the climate response could be. Some changes could come quite quickly.” 

The work also illustrates that real-world changes in temperature may result from changing ocean clouds, either incidentally with sulfur associated with ship exhaust, or with a deliberate climate intervention by adding aerosols back over the ocean. But lots of uncertainties remain. Better access to ship position and detailed emissions data, along with modeling that better captures potential feedback from the ocean, could help strengthen our understanding. 

In addition to Gettelman, Earth scientist Matthew Christensen is also a PNNL author of the work. This work was funded in part by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory draws on its distinguishing strengths in chemistry , Earth sciences , biology and data science to advance scientific knowledge and address challenges in sustainable energy and national security . Founded in 1965, PNNL is operated by Battelle for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. DOE’s Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://www.energy.gov/science/ . For more information on PNNL, visit PNNL's News Center . Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn and Instagram .

Published: August 12, 2024

Research topics

Australian 'Trojan horse' trial uses cholesterol to trick malaria parasites into consuming fatal drugs

By Peter Jean

Topic: Malaria

Professor Alex Maier says parasites actively latch onto drugs containing fake cholesterol.  ( Supplied: ANU )

Researchers in Canberra and Germany have attached cholesterol-like chemicals to anti-malarial medications to trick the parasites into consuming them.

Lead researcher Professor Alex Maier says the method is three to 25 times times more effective at eliminating the parasites compared to drugs without the cholesterol-like chemicals.

What's next?

The trial was a success but more research is needed to determine if the method can be used to treat malaria in humans.

Cholesterol could be a weapon in the fight against malaria and other potentially deadly parasitic diseases, according to researchers who have created a new method for treatment. 

Malaria-causing parasites do not produce their own cholesterol and instead source it from host animals. 

Researchers at the Australian National University in Canberra and Humboldt University of Berlin have created a "Trojan horse" method that attaches chemicals which resemble cholesterol to existing malaria treatments to encourage parasites to consume them.

Lead researcher Professor Alex Maier said the method was three to 25 times times more effective at eliminating the parasites compared to drugs without the cholesterol-like chemicals.

“Existing drugs used to treat malaria are taken up passively by the parasite, meaning they’re not as effective as they could be,” Professor Maier said. 

“By attaching the drugs to cholesterol, the parasite actively latches onto and eats the cholesterol. This allows us to smuggle drugs into optimal killing zones inside the parasite where the drugs can inflict the most damage.''

Drugs containing fake cholesterol were three to 25 times more effective at  eliminating parasites. ( Supplied: ANU )

Method could help overcome drug-resistance

Co-researcher Professor Malcolm McLeod said the method could overcome resistance by parasites to some malaria treatments.

"There was one very interesting compound called artemisinin which is currently one of the frontline treatments for malaria but unfortunately there's resistance emerging even to that,''  Professor McLeod said.

"We were able to show that by linking an artemisinin drug to a cholesterol-like molecule, we were able to sort of reverse that resistance.''

Findings from the research have been published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine.

Peer reviewers of the article noted the further research was needed into the methods the team described.

Professor McLeod agreed, and said it could be several years before the delivery method was used to treat malaria in humans. 

"Ultimately the goal would be to move on to human trials, but that's some way off,'' he said. 

In 2022 there were an estimated 249 million malaria cases and 608 000 malaria deaths around the world.

There were 266 cases of malaria reported to Australian health authorities in 2023, almost all of which were acquired overseas.

The research team hopes the Trojan horse method could also be used to treat the intestinal disease giardia, as well as the skin, mouth, nose and throat disease leishmaniasis.

The findings could also help the agricultural industry in the fight against parasites that kill livestock.   

In 2022, there were an estimated 249 million malaria cases and 608 000 malaria deaths around the world. ( ABC TV News - file image )

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Google Scholar reveals its most influential papers for 2021

Early clinical observations of COVID-19 and its mortality risk factors among the most cited output, while a five-year-old AI paper continues to command attention.

Examples of using SSD, an object-detection algorithm described in a highly cited artificial intelligence paper. Credit: Wei Liu et al. European Conference on Computer Vision (2016)

24 August 2021

Wei Liu et al. European Conference on Computer Vision (2016)

Examples of using SSD, an object-detection algorithm described in a highly cited artificial intelligence paper.

COVID-19-related papers have eclipsed artificial intelligence research in the annual listing of the most highly-cited publications in the Google Scholar database. The most highly cited COVID-19 paper, published in The Lancet in early 2020, has garnered more than 30,000 citations to date (see below for paper summary).

But, in the database of almost 400 million academic papers and other scholarly literature, even it fell a long way short of the most highly cited paper of the last five years, ‘Deep Residual Learning for Image Recognition’, published in Proceedings of the IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition by a team from Microsoft in 2016.

The five-year-old paper’s astonishing ascendancy continues, from 25,256 citations in 2019 to 49,301 citations in 2020 to 82,588 citations in 2021. We wrote about it last year here .

The 2021 Google Scholar Metrics ranking tracks papers published between 2016 and 2020, and includes citations from all articles that were indexed in Google Scholar as of July 2020. Google Scholar is the largest database in the world of its kind.

Below we describe selections from Google Scholar’s most highly-cited articles for 2021. COVID-19 research dominated new arrivals in the list, but we’re also featuring a popular AI paper from 2016, and research that provides an economical shortcut to seeing patterns of human genetic variation, also from 2016.

See our coverage of the 2019 and 2020 lists.

‘Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China’

30,529 citations

Published in February 2020, this is one of the earliest papers to describe the clinical characteristics of COVID-19. It was authored by researchers in China and doctors working in hospitals in Wuhan, the city where COVID-19 was first detected in late 2019.

The team, from institutions such as the Jin Yin-tan Hospital in Wuhan and China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing, reviewed the clinical and nursing reports, chest X-rays and lab results of the first 41 COVID-19 patients. They noted that the novel virus acts similarly to SARS and MERS, in that it causes pneumonia, but is different in that it seldom manifests as a runny nose or intestinal symptoms.

The final sentences of the paper call for robust and rapid testing, because of the likelihood of the disease spreading out of control:

“Reliable quick pathogen tests and feasible differential diagnosis based on clinical description are crucial for clinicians in their first contact with suspected patients. Because of the pandemic potential of 2019-nCoV, careful surveillance is essential to monitor its future host adaption, viral evolution, infectivity, transmissibility, and pathogenicity.”

The paper has been referenced or cited in almost 100 policy documents to date , including several released by the World Health Organization on topics such as mask-wearing and clinical care of patients with severe symptoms .

‘Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China’

New England Journal of Medicine

19,656 citations

Published online in February 2020, this study was a retrospective review of medical records for 1,099 COVID-19 cases reported to the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China between 11 December 2019 and 29 January 2020.

The team, which included almost 40 researchers from China from institutions such as the Guangzhou Medical University in Guangzhou and Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, accessed electronic medical records from 552 hospitals in mainland China to summarise exposure risk, signs and symptoms, laboratory and radiologic findings related to COVID-19 infection.

The study garnered a lot of media attention based on the evidence it put forward that men might be more severely impacted by disease – 58% of the patient cohort were male.

However, as Sharon Begley reported for STAT , “It’s possible the apparent sex imbalance reflects patterns of travel and contacts that make men more likely to be exposed to carriers of the virus, not any inherent biological differences. It’s also possible the apparent worse disease severity in men could skew the data.”

A paper published in JAMA around the same time by researchers in the United States reported that, among hospitalized patients, there is “a slight predominance of men”.

A Nature Communications meta-analysis , published in December 2020, looked at 92 studies covering more than three million patients and concluded that, while males and females appeared to be susceptible to infection, men were 2.84 times more likely to be end up in intensive care and 1.39 times more likely to die from the disease.

‘Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study’

17,047 citations

Published in March 2020, The Lancet described this study as the first time researchers have examined risk factors associated with severe symptoms and death in hospitalised or deceased patients. Of the 191 patients studied, 137 were discharged from hospital and 54 died.

The study, by researchers from hospitals in China, also presented new data on viral shedding – information that informed early understanding of how the virus spreads and can be detected over the cause of infection.

“The extended viral shedding noted in our study has important implications for guiding decisions around isolation precautions and antiviral treatment in patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection,” said co-lead author, Bin Cao, from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and Capital Medical University in Beijing.

“However, we need to be clear that viral shedding time should not be confused with other self-isolation guidance for people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 but do not have symptoms, as this guidance is based on the incubation time of the virus.”

‘A Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019’

The New England journal of medicine

16,194 citations

On 31 December 2019, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) dispatched a rapid response team to accompany health authorities in Hubei province and Wuhan city in conducting COVID-19 investigations.

This study, published in January 2020, reported the results of that investigation, including the clinical features of the pneumonia of two patients.

Described by Jose Manuel Jimenez-Guardeño, a researcher in the Department of Infectious Diseases at King's College London , UK and colleagues in an article for The Conversation as “the article that released this virus to the world”, the paper details how the virus was isolated from patients with pneumonia in Wuhan in cell cultures.

“In fact, actual photographs of SARS-CoV-2 were shown to the world for the first time here,” say Jimenez-Guardeño and his co-authors .

The study authors urged that more epidemiologic investigations were needed in order to characterize transmission modes, reproduction intervals and other characteristics of the virus to inform strategies to control and stop its spread.

‘SSD: Single Shot MultiBox Detector’

European Conference on Computer Vision

15,368 citations

A change of pace from recent COVID-19 studies, this paper, led by Wei Liu from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and published in 2016, remains one of the most highly cited in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). It describes a new method for detecting objects in images or video footage using a single deep neural network – a set of AI algorithms inspired by the neurological processes that fire in the human cerebral cortex.

The approach, called the Single Shot MultiBox Detector, or SSD, has been described as faster than Faster R-CNN – another object detection technology that was described in a very highly cited paper published in 2015 ( see our coverage here ).

SSD works by dividing the image into a grid, with each grid cell responsible for detecting objects within that part of the image. As the name indicates, the network is able to identify all objects within an image in a single pass, allowing for real-time analysis.

SSD is now one of a handful of object detection technologies that are now available. YOLO (You Only Look Once) is a similar single-shot object detection algorithm, whereas R-CNN and Faster R-CNN use a two-step approach , which involves first identifying the regions where objects might be, and then detecting them.

‘Analysis of protein-coding genetic variation in 60,706 humans’

7,696 citations

Led by Monkol Lek from the University of Sydney in Australia and Daniel MacArthur from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University , this 2016 paper presents an open-access catalogue of more than 60,000 human exome sequences (exomes are the coding portions of genes) from people of European, African, South Asian, East Asian, and Latinx ancestry.

The collection was compiled as part of the Exome Aggregation Consortium project, run by an international group of researchers with a focus on exome sequencing. As exomes only make up about 2% of the human genome , the approach has been praised for being able to highlight patterns of genetic variation, including known disease-related variants, in a more cost-effective way than whole-genome sequencing.

Presented at a 2015 genomics conference, the catalogue encompasses 7.4 million genetic variants, which can be used to identify those connected to rare diseases. “Large-scale reference datasets of human genetic variation are critical for the medical and functional interpretation of DNA sequence changes,” Lek said when the paper was published.

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