In collecting the best evidence,the gold standard for research is
A) The randomized controlled trial (RCT).
B) The peer-reviewed article.
C) Qualitative research.
D) The opinion of expert committees.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Individual RCTs are the gold standard for research.A peer-reviewed article means that a panel of experts has reviewed the article; this is not a research method.Qualitative research is valuable in identifying information about how patients cope with or manage various health problems and their perceptions of illness.It does not usually have the robustness of an RCT.Expert opinion is on the bottom of the hierarchical pyramid of evidence.

In Collecting the Best Evidence,the Gold Standard for Research Is