Where Tools Fit in the Research Workflow

Now that you understand the research workflow, let us map the tools you previewed in Level 0 to each step. This gives you a practical roadmap for when to learn and use each tool. Step 1-2 (Question formulation): No special tool needed — just your clinical observation and a notebook/question log. Step 3 (Literature search): PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Scopus. AI tools like Elicit can assist discovery but must be verified. Step 3 (Reference management): Zotero, Mendeley, or Endnote. Set this up from the very start — organizing references early saves enormous time later. Step 4 (Study design): EQUATOR Network to identify the appropriate reporting guideline. Decision trees (taught in Level 4) to select the right design. Step 5 (Ethics): Your institution's IRB/ethics committee portal. ClinicalTrials.gov for trial registration. Step 6 (Sample size): G*Power (free), or online calculators for simple designs. Step 7-8 (Data collection and management): REDCap (institutional), Google Forms/Sheets (basic), Excel (with caution). Step 9 (Data analysis): Jamovi (beginner), SPSS (institutional), R/RStudio (advanced). RevMan for meta-analysis. Step 10 (Screening for SRs): Rayyan, Covidence. Step 11 (Writing): Word processor + reporting guideline checklist + reference manager plugin. Step 12 (Submission): Journal submission portals, ORCID for author identification. You do not need all these tools on day one. Start with: PubMed + Zotero + one statistical software (Jamovi recommended). Add others as your projects demand them.