Research: A journey of innovation or rediscovery (Patricia Lance Lecture 1998)

Kerry Fitzmaurice PhD Dip App Sci(Orth) DOBA MOAA
School of Orthoptics
Faculty of Health Science

Good research should be an integral part of the continued development of the discipline of orthoptics and yet many practitioners do not consider research fundamental to their practice. Research is often seen as the domain of the universities and whilst it is a major part of the university role research is increasing in importance in clinical practice with the current shift to evidence based practice. The subject of this paper is to discuss the concept of research in an attempt to encourage all practitioners to consider research a part of their daily practice. An overview of the development of the scientific method is presented including the contribution of observation and trial and error. The more formal elements of literature search, research design and statistics are considered in the clinical context.
I wish to thank Council for the honour of asking me to present the 1999 P M Lance Lecture. Patricia (Pat) Lance MBE is a great pioneer of orthoptics. I am grateful I joined the Orthoptic profession at a time when pioneers such as Pat Lance; Bev Balfour and Diana Craig were still active in the profession, my regret is not joining early enough to actively work with such people. Each of these early pioneers was in the true sense a researcher. These pioneers was in the true sense a researcher. These pioneers established the discipline of orthoptics as a science based on research. We must continue with these principles today if we want our discipline to grow and have standing with other professional areas.
As defined in the Oxford Dictionary research is a “careful search or inquiry; endeavour to discover new facts etc. by scientific study of a subject; course of critical investigation.” It is in the broadest sense that I wish to define research, that is, an exploration of new ideas leading to the development of theory and practice. However, research is often seen as a complicated scientific process that takes place in universities and requires specific training. Whilst to some extent this is true, research is also an activity in which we can all be involved in. This lecture will be used to present the concept of research as journey of discovery, an activity to be enjoyed not feared. Aspects of my own research will be referred to as illustration of certain points on the journey.