- Before a new research study is conducted, a review must be made of research and data available on the topic. The research assistant browses scholarly journals, scientific articles, magazines, books and other publications. Then the research assistant organizes the information into a paper summarizing the studies and the findings for the researcher to review.
- Research proposals that survey, interview or test procedures on humans must have approval before the research study can be started. At colleges and universities, this approval is granted by a human subject research review committee, which ensures that the research being conducted is ethical and legal. Research assistant duties often entail preparing materials and information about the research study for the committee to review.
- Most research studies need funding to pay the salary of the researcher, the research assistant and other research jobs. There are also supplies and equipment that need to be purchased, and subjects may need to be monetarily compensated for their time. A research assistant is often required to help the professor or researcher with submitting a grant application or other funding proposal as well as monitoring the budget for the research study once funding has been approved and received.
- While a researcher takes responsibility for collecting the data for their research study, a research assistant performs many of the preparation and administrative tasks. For surveys and interviews, an assistant helps prepare questions and finds subjects for the researcher to survey or interview. During the process of the research study, assistants ensure surveys are fully completed and interviews are accurately recorded. Afterward, they tabulate the data from surveys or summarize the information from the interviews while also maintaining the confidentiality of research participants.
- After researchers have conducted their study and analyzed the data, many seek to publish their results in a scholarly journal or publication of a professional association. Research assistant duties entail providing assistance in preparing articles, reports and manuscripts for publications. An assistant may also help create presentation slides, videos or handouts if the researcher plans to present his or her findings at a conference.
