Session overview

Every research question can be classed as either descriptive, predictive, or causal. This framework helps researchers align their research question to the correct research method. By the end of this seminar, attendees will understand the types of questions that may be investigated in quantitative medical research, the clinical importance of those research questions, how their results may be interpreted, and will be able to detect which methodological approaches are most appropriate for each type of research question.

During this session, you will:

• The types of medical research questions

• The importance and clinical interpretation of each type of research question

• How to detect which methodological approaches are most appropriate for each type of research question

DATE

Wednesday 11th March 2026, 3:00pm-4:00pm (AEDT) (NB: QLD 2:00pm-3:00pm)

Location

Microsoft Teams - Once you have registered the meeting link will be provided in the confirmation email and calender invitation. 

** Please note: All seminars are recorded and will be posted to the RR-CLaN YouTube channel after the session. If this seminar interests you, please register—even if you cannot attend live—as you will receive an email notification when the recording is available, along with any resources shared during the session.

About the Presenter

Dr Brett Dyer is a biostatistics research fellow at Griffith University, where he leads a research programme focused on improving the implementation of statistical methods for prediction and causal inference. In 2025, Dyer published articles outlining the recommended variable selection approaches for causal inference, prediction, and descriptive research (http://bit.ly/4kASdoy), and highlighting four common mistakes that remain in observational research regarding the classification of research questions as causal, predictive, or descriptive (http://bit.ly/3VYlCz6).

Who are the Rural Research Collaborative Learning Network (RR-CLaN)?