Research knowledge base
Research best practices, in action
See how practical research decisions can be organised into a reviewable workflow. These examples connect service areas, knowledge-base guides and independent sources.
01
Worked examples
Build a journal shortlist with a defensible decision trail
A hypothetical interdisciplinary team needs to choose a first submission target without reducing the decision to a journal metric.
Keep a systematic review’s decisions traceable
A hypothetical review team needs to reconcile search exports, reviewer decisions and the final flow diagram.
Hand over an analysis that a colleague can reproduce
A hypothetical research team is preparing tables and figures for a manuscript while transferring analysis responsibility to a colleague.
Turn an institutional research dashboard into a support decision
A hypothetical university wants to use publication and collaboration evidence to identify practical support priorities.
02
How to use these examples
Each scenario is illustrative. It explains a starting problem, a proposed intervention, the expected handover and a way to assess the process. None is presented as a completed Outlier Science client engagement or a measured result.
Choose the example closest to your current decision, then follow its related guide for preparation. The linked service can help define a scoped assignment when the issue needs expert support. Adapt the workflow to the research design, institution and permissions involved.
03
From a worked example to a documented case study
A real engagement case study needs permission to publish, a defined scope, evidence for the reported outcome and a clear account of limitations. Comparative claims need a stated baseline and timeframe. Until those records are available, a worked example offers a transparent explanation of the process.
04
Continue with your research
External resources reviewed 22 October 2026. Check the current instructions for the selected journal, tool or institution before acting. These links identify independent resources and do not imply an affiliation with or endorsement by their providers.