Research Methods & Study Design

A comprehensive OMERACT reference guide outlining the standards, principles, and methods for developing, evaluating, and endorsing Core Outcome Sets — ensuring consistency and rigor across all OMERACT working groups.

A framework used to evaluate outcome measurement instruments across three criteria: Truth (does it measure the right thing?), Discrimination (can it detect meaningful differences?), and Feasibility (is it practical to use?). Instruments passing all three are suitable for OMERACT-endorsed Core Outcome Sets.

An OMERACT educational initiative offering structured learning programs for members at all levels — providing foundational and advanced knowledge, supporting skill development, and nurturing future leaders in rheumatology research.

A global, volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with autoimmune and musculoskeletal diseases by advancing the quality of clinical studies. OMERACT develops Core Outcome Sets identifying important domains and measurement instruments for use in clinical trials.

A study in which researchers collect data on participants without assigning them to treatments. Used when randomization is not feasible or ethical, and helpful for generating hypotheses for future trials.

A study in which participants are not assigned to groups by chance. Because assignment is not random, these studies are more prone to bias, but they can still provide valuable evidence when randomization is not possible.

A structured method for generating, discussing, and prioritizing ideas from a group, designed to give every participant an equal voice. Widely used in research and healthcare settings to reach consensus fairly.

A composite measure that combines multiple individual outcomes into a single score at the patient level, using predefined rules, to give a more complete picture of a patient‘s condition or treatment response.

A strategy that actively involves diverse stakeholders from different sectors and backgrounds in decision-making and implementation, promoting transparency and shared ownership of outcomes — central to how OMERACT develops Core Outcome Sets.

A research approach that combines both qualitative (descriptive) and quantitative (numerical) methods in a single study to gain a more complete understanding of complex questions.