Data
Data is the information collected through research. It can include written information, numbers, sounds and pictures.
Glossary
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Data analysis
Data analysis involves examining and processing research data, in order to answer the questions that the project is trying to address. It involves identifying patterns and drawing out the main themes, and is often done with specialist computer software.
Data protection
All personal information is protected in the UK by the Data Protection Act 2018. This means that researchers have to put in all the necessary safeguards to protect the confidentiality of the information they collect about research participants. They should explain in the patient information sheet: how the participants’ data will be collected, how it will be stored securely, what it will be used for, who will have access to the data that identifies participants, how long it will be kept and how it will be disposed of securely.
DHSC
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is the government department supporting ministers in leading the nation’s health and social care to help people live more independent, healthier lives for longer.
Diagnostic test
A diagnostic test is an indicator or predictor of an illness state. As such, the term needs to be interpreted broadly as it includes diagnostic tests, screening, tests to stage disease, treatment monitoring, and estimate prognosis estimation.
Discoverable
Discoverable publications mean that they can be found by readers and search engines, usually facilitated through a bibliographic or metadata record associated with the full text.
Dissemination
Dissemination involves communicating the findings of a research project to a wide range of people who might find it useful. This can be done through producing reports, publishing articles in journals or newsletters, issuing press releases or giving talks at conferences.
DMC
A Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) is a committee that may be established by the sponsor to assess at intervals, the progress of a clinical trial, the safety data, and the critical efficacy endpoints, and to recommend to the sponsor whether to continue, modify, or stop a trial.
DOI
Digital Object Identifiers, a persistent identifier system
Double blind
A trial where the investigators and the subjects included in the trial (healthy volunteers or patients) do not know which interventions / treatments have been assigned.