Research is a unique method where humans get creative to acquire and add more knowledge which is already existing. Research plays an important role in almost every field. Without Research, we will not be able to find and discover new things. Evidence is something that needs to be believed in support of a proposition. Evidence works correctly when the proposition is found valid. There are various types of practices, like research-based and evidence-based.
Research vs Evidence-Based Practice
The main difference between Research and Evidence-Based Practice is that Research-based practice is a systematic process and is planned to carry out an investigation. While in Evidence-Based Practice, there is no systematic and planned way and all the propositions are carried out based on evidence. In Research, the problem is there that needs to be investigated to find out the new truths. In evidence-based, evidence is used for making clinical decisions. Evidence is reached through the medium of Research only.
Research involves all the systematic things like collecting data, organizing the data, and analysing the data to get new information to increase the understanding of a topic or subject. Research practice can also be done on previous researches as well to explore the plethora of new information. The validity of Research is tested by using various kinds of instruments, experiments, procedures etc. The main function of Research is to discover, interpret, document and then carry out the proper research and development of systems and methods.
Evidence-Based Practice(EBP) is entirely based on the scientific evidence produced. EBP, because of its desirable nature, seems to be very controversial.EBP was first used as a method in the year 1992 when there was the introduction of evidence-based medicine. EBP has spread to a variety of fields ranging from management, law, public policy, allied health professions, education, architecture, and other fields. EBP also takes the help of Research to acquire the evidence. When Research is done into an EBP, then it is called a Metascience.
Comparison Table Between Research and Evidence-Based Practice
| Parameters of Comparison | Research-Based Practice | Evidence-Based Practice |
| Abstract | Organised and planned | Organised in the manner of evidence. |
| Problem | Research Hypothesis | EBP hypothesis |
| Data Collection | Surveys, Observations, Questionnaires, Interviews etc. | Relies on existing data. |
| Contribution | Understanding the world. | Bring changes in the practice |
| Methodology | Research approach | Designed strategy for acquiring other evidence. |
What is Research-Based Practice?
The term ‘Research’ is derived from a French word meaning to seek or to search. The earliest use of the word is known to be found in the year 1577. Research has many definitions, and everybody defines them according to their understandings and findings. It has more than one meaning. It is very difficult to encompass the word Research into a single definition. The most basic understanding of Research is inquiry or experimentation. There are various forms of Research like Ordinary Research, scientific Research, historical Research, documentary research, artistic Research etc.
There are different ways according to which Research should be performed. First, a researcher needs to identify the research problem, then he has to do a Literature Review, then find the specific purpose of Research, determine the research questions, set a hypothesis, methodology, data collection, verifying data, analyzing and interpreting, reporting, evaluating and then coming to the outcomes. There are three types of main Research, i.e. Empirical, exploratory and Qualitative.
There are various research ethics like taking the consent of the person before taking his ideas or findings for use. Research integrity should be maintained without making any fraud, plagiarism or fabrication of data. There are various problems in the Research, like it is biased like researches are mostly conducted in the language that is preferred in the location where the researcher is conducting the Research. Often while conducting the research sample is generalized, which may create problems sometimes because of the narrow scope. Research teams are also made to incorporate the multidisciplinary approach and find something original.
What is Evidence-Based Practice?
The term evidence-based was first introduced in the year 1990 by Gordon Gyatt. The term was first published n the year 1992. Evidence-Based Practice is completely different from the basic traditional practice. EBP is usually conducted on a large level of population. So various critics said that it may not be beneficial at the individualised level. So it can sometimes fail to provide the best results for an individual. EBP is usually based on scientific evidence. This practice has spread to various fields as well, from education, management, law, allied health professions, public policy, architecture, and other fields.
In Evidence-Based Practice, it encourages the professionals to pay more attention to the evidence while making the decisions. The motto of Evidence-based Practice is to remove all the outdated practices so that new effective approaches can be added while making the decision rather than having an unscientific grounded approach. Evaluating the evidence-based practices is very difficult in comparison to the tradition. The process of carrying out EBP research can be simplified by making a hierarchy of evidence.
Various applications of EBP can be found, like in the field of medicine, where it is used to optimize the decision making from well-conducted Research. In metascience also EBP is conduced in scientific Research to address the replication crisis. Applying evidence-based practices into Research is itself a metascience that helps to enhance the quality of scientific research. When evidence Based Practice is used in education, then it is called Evidence-based interventions.
Main Differences Between Research and Evidence-Based Practice
- In Research, everything is organised and planned for investigation. In Evidence-Based practice, everything is organised in the manner of evidence.
- The problem of Research is a Research Hypothesis. The problem of evidence-based practice is the EBP hypothesis.
- Data collection in Research is done by methods like Surveys, Observations, Questionnaires, Interviews etc. Data collection in EBP relies on existing data. If no data is there, then it needs to be collected.
- Contribution of Research gives understanding the world. The contribution of EBP bring changes in the practice
- The methodology used in Research practice is the Research approach. The methodology used in EBP is a designed strategy for acquiring other evidence.
Conclusion
Both research and evidence-based practice are different from each other. One uses a traditional method while the other completely depends upon evidence. Research-Based practice is considered as one of the basic methods to investigate the data. While Evidence-based practice is used as a neo-colonial practice. When it is mixed with scientific research, then it becomes metascience.
In Research-Based practice, findings are presented either by statistics or notes. Qualitative, audit and various evidence are used in EBP. The research findings in research practices are discussed and implied for practice with other types of researches in the same field. In EBP, evidence from current is compared with the best evidence.
References
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=YbReVadfwkwC&oi=fnd&pg=PA2&dq=+Research+and+Evidence-Based+Practice&ots=7kj8Ki7MVK&sig=S481z5i0oP6-AkaR6cJXJtEIi7s
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/001440290507100204