Literature- and empirical research

Health-related research can be a powerful tool for change in the public realm and well as within organizations. By learning more about existing knowledge on a particular topic, or by investigating the answers to new, well-focused questions, organizations and professionals are empowered to take prudent, positive action to protect and promote health. Commers Health Consulting provides clients with expert support of a broad range of research activities. At the most general level, such support relates to both literature and empirical research.

Literature Research

Literature research involves finding out what has been reported and argued in respected, written media about a given topic or theme. Our literature research capacities enable us to offer high-quality and rapid information gathering simultaneously. Our literature research reports are based on exhaustive searches of relevant scientific and governmental literature. Searches begin with the vast national and international literature resources in all Dutch public and academic libraries. As needed, they are extended world-wide via databases such as MedLine and the United States Library of Congress.

Literature research can be a powerful tool for meeting the specific informational needs of our clients. Hospitals, long-term care facilities, municipal health agencies, national institutes and semi-governmental units often have need of expert information which, due to constraints in expertise or time, they are unable to generate internally.

Empirical Research

Empirical research involves the direct gathering of information, experience, and evidence with the goal of learning more about a given topic or theme. Commers Health Consulting offers clients both empirical research expertise and implementation capacity.

Empirical research expertise involves the conceptualization, design, management, and reporting of research projects. Commers Health Consulting provides end-to-end research support to clients seeking to learn more about their organization, their clients, or the world around them. Generally, the process begins with a clarification of the central research goal(s) and question(s). Research goals and questions are then used to inform the selection of methods. At that juncture, clients may request that Commers Health Consulting implement the research project as designed. In that case, we manage implementation carefully, and will assist clients with reporting results in intra-organizational report format, scientific journals, or other media, such as CD-ROMs/DVDs.

We assist universities with various aspects of fundamental research projects, as well as organizations and governmental units with applied research. Commers Health Consulting also takes pride in self-generated projects supporting public health and the common good.

Commers Health Consulting has provided research support to clients such as the Dean’s Office of the School of Psychology, Maastricht University, and the Foundation for Stimulant Funding in Public Health Care (OGZ Fonds), The Hague, both in The Netherlands.