An official website of the United States government
Research Methods
ODP offers resources to promote the use of the best available methods in prevention research and support the development of high-quality methods.
Research Methods for Multilevel Interventions to Reduce Health Disparities
Information and resources for researchers about appropriate research methods for evaluating complex multilevel interventions to reduce health disparities.
NIH's Research Methods Resources Website
Considering a trial involving groups or clusters? The Research Methods Resources website provides investigators with information and sample size calculators to help design and analyze their studies using the best available methods.
Research Needs and Gaps
Stimulating disease prevention research is an important part of improving the health of all Americans. In order to do this, we need to know which areas require additional research. The activities and resources below identify prevention areas, services, programs, and policies where there are research needs and gaps.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Insufficient Evidence (I) Statements
The USPSTF makes evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services such as screening tests, counseling about healthy behaviors, and preventive medications. However, they often cannot make a recommendation for or against a service because of a lack of evidence. When this occurs, the USPSTF issues an insufficient evidence (I) Statement.
Healthy People 2030 Research Objectives
The Healthy People program sets data-driven national objectives to improve health and well-being over the next decade. Healthy People 2030 research objectives represent public health issues with a high health or economic burden or significant disparities between population groups that aren't yet associated with evidence-based interventions.
Pathways to Prevention (P2P) Program Publications
The P2P program uses a structured process to identify research gaps in a scientific area of broad public health importance. The program centers around workshops on prevention topics with limited or underdeveloped research and a need for a critical assessment of the evidence.
You can use P2P workshop publications—like the systematic evidence review, independent panel report with recommendations for future research, and federal partners meeting report—to help fill research gaps.