Inside the World of Patient Safety Research: A Research & Implementation Assistants’ Perspective
Written by Alishba Hussain and Natalia Malecka, Psychology undergraduate students at the University of Leeds.
Over the past few months, we had the incredible opportunity to work as research and implementation assistants at Yorkshire & Humber PSRC. As second year Psychology students at the University of Leeds who only previously had research skills in an academic setting, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect as research assistants on a Patient Safety Research team, however we were excited to take time away from being students and delve into the world of research in the healthcare system!
From interviews to literature searches, every part of the experience has broadened our understanding of real-world research processes. We had the opportunity to engage with qualitative research through interviews and were able to do conduct them independently, as well as shadow more experienced researchers, giving us a solid grounding in interview techniques, ethics, and participant engagement. We also took time in transcribing interviews. While it was meticulous, it provided a deeper appreciation for the nuances of human experience and communication.