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Research Skills and Tools


Cómo Leer Artículos Académicos de tipo Universitario, y de Arbitraje Académico Sin Sentirte Abrumado
Aprende a leer artículos académicos y de arbitraje científico de forma más rápida y efectiva. Una guía práctica para estudiantes, investigadores y profesionales de la salud.
Javier Gutierrez, M.D.
Sep 146 min read


How to Read Scholarly and Peer-Reviewed Articles: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to read scholarly and peer-reviewed articles faster and with better comprehension. A practical step-by-step guide for students, researchers, and professionals.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Sep 148 min read


Post-Marketing Surveillance and Drug Safety: What Happens After FDA Approval
How the FDA monitors drug safety after approval. FAERS, REMS, Sentinel, and Phase IV trials explained for research sites and coordinators.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Sep 124 min read


What Is a Pivotal Trial?
A pivotal trial provides the core evidence the FDA uses to decide drug approval. Learn what makes a trial pivotal and why it matters for sites.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Sep 123 min read


Understanding Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) in Clinical Trials
Learn what maximum tolerated dose (MTD) means in clinical trials, how it's determined, and how it differs from RP2D and MFD.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Sep 125 min read


What Is Good Clinical Practice (GCP)?
Learn what Good Clinical Practice (GCP) means, where it comes from, and how it shows up daily at clinical research sites.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Sep 114 min read


What Is a Double-Blind Clinical Trial?
How double-blind clinical trials work, why blinding matters, and what it means for research sites
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Sep 113 min read


How Clinical Trial Recruitment Works: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how clinical trial recruitment actually works, from protocol design to informed consent, in this step-by-step guide for sites and patients.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Sep 115 min read
CPR Basics for Healthcare Providers and Clinical Staff
Why CPR readiness matters at healthcare sites, the core steps every provider should know, and how to build it into staff training.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Sep 103 min read


What Is an Adverse Event (AE) vs. a Serious Adverse Event (SAE)?
Learn the difference between an adverse event and a serious adverse event in clinical trials, definitions, criteria, and reporting timelines.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Sep 95 min read


Informed Consent in Clinical Research: What Site Staff and Sponsors Need to Get Right
A practical guide to running a compliant, audit-ready informed consent process, key ICF elements, re-consent rules, and common deficiencies.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Aug 226 min read


What Are Phase 4 Clinical Trials? Post-Marketing Studies and Real-World Evidence
Learn what Phase 4 clinical trials involve, why real-world evidence matters, and how TX/NM practices can start participating with support from TriStar CRC
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Jul 12 min read


What Are Phase 3 Clinical Trials? The Pivotal Studies That Support FDA Approval
Discover what happens in Phase 3 clinical trials, why they're called ‘pivotal,’ and how community practices in TX & NM can get involved.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Jul 13 min read


What Are Phase 2 Clinical Trials? Evaluating Efficacy and Optimizing Treatment
Discover how Phase 2 clinical trials evaluate efficacy and optimize treatment. Learn what healthcare providers need to know about randomization, blinding, and site participation.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Jul 14 min read


What Is Preclinical Research? Understanding the First Step in Drug Development
Discover how preclinical research tests safety and efficacy before human trials begin and what it means for the clinical trial pipeline.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Jun 303 min read


How to Write a Literature Review: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to write a literature review with our complete guide. Discover the 8 key steps, from defining scope to synthesis and creating a compelling academic review.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Jun 134 min read


A Guide to Scholarly Sources, Academic Articles, and Efficient Research
Confused by academic research? Learn how to find, read, and evaluate peer-reviewed scholarly sources like a pro. A complete beginner-friendly guide.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
Jun 136 min read


ALCOA-C: The Standard for Clinical Research Documentation
Learn what ALCOA-C means and why it matters for clinical research sites. Tristar helps providers build audit-ready, compliant research programs.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
May 295 min read


Research Methods Explained: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Approaches
Not sure whether to use qualitative, quantitative, or mixed research methods? This beginner-friendly guide breaks down each approach with real examples, a comparison table, and tips to choose the right method for your study.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
May 294 min read


What Is a Citation Manager? How Reference Management Software Improve Research Efficiency and Scholarly Writing
Learn what citation managers are, how they improve academic writing, and why students and researchers use them to streamline scholarly work.
Jim Ramos, PhD, MBA
May 295 min read
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