What are the limitations of research evidence?
Author: SCIRE Community Team | Reviewer: Janice Eng | Published: 24 April 2017 | Updated: 23 February 2024
Although research provides the most reliable way of gathering information about a subject, research alone cannot tell us everything that we need to know about health. Some of the limitations of research as a form of evidence include:
Conducting and interpreting research are often challenging.9
- Conducting research is costly, challenging, and time-consuming. Only a small number of the questions we have will ever be answered directly through research.
- It is difficult to conduct high quality research. Even the most carefully designed studies can be faced with circumstances that create bias. Because of this, the majority of research studies do not provide strong evidence.
- Research can often be difficult and time-consuming to understand. This makes it challenging for everyone, including your health providers, to easily use research as a part of everyday decision-making.
