Building a Research Career Using Secondary Data: Getting Started

Summary

In this presentation, Matt Davis, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the U-M School of Nursing provides an overview of the strengths and drawbacks of several types of secondary data sources (including surveys, electronic health records and medical claims data), points to valuable data options for mental health research, and offers several practical examples to help you get started.

Body

Have you wanted to leverage secondary data for mental health research but felt unsure how to get started? In this presentation, Matt Davis, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the U-M School of Nursing provides an overview of the strengths and drawbacks of several types of secondary data sources (including surveys, electronic health records and medical claims data), points to valuable data options for mental health research, and offers several practical examples to help you get started. 

Specifically, Dr. Davis covers: 

  • What we mean by “secondary data” and why you should use it
  • The strengths and drawbacks of each kind of secondary data, including surveys, electronic health records and medical claims data and more
  • An overview of several high-impact secondary data options for mental health research
  • A case example of how to build a project using secondary data, featuring an example using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System

Learning objectives for the session include: 

  • Understand the value and benefits of using secondary data for mental health research 
  • Recognize the differences between various types of secondary data sources and their appropriateness in different contexts
  • Explore the range of options of secondary data sources for mental health research
  • Appreciate how to build a mental health research project using a secondary data source

Watch the presentation here:


Details

Details

Article ID: 13661
Created
Wed 3/26/25 1:22 PM
Modified
Tue 1/27/26 8:19 PM
Author(s)
Meghan Seewald

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