Research from afar: Considerations for conducting an off-site research project

An off-site research project Is defined as a research study having a conduc tion location and data-collection site from which the principal investigato r is geographically separated. Off-site research projects will likely incre ase because they afford greater access to larger research subject pools rel evant to research questions and allow participation research ata site from which research would otherwise not be conducted. The critical elements prop osed to make an off-site study successful include system negotiations, atte nding to personnel issues, fostering communication, encouraging subject par ticipation, optimizing data collection and management, considering privacy issues, and ensuring optimal research team performance. An example of a spe cific off-site study involving a major midwest research university in one s tate and a large United States Navy training center in another state is dis cussed, and essential elements in establishing off-site research are highli ghted.