The Protocol for Conducting Administrative Research was developed for researchers as they plan and implement health care research using administrative data.  It serves as a methodological checklist or template that they can follow throughout the duration of a project. Since research is frequently iterative, guidelines are not necessarily followed in order.  However, consistently following them facilitates the identification and documentation of key steps in the research process.

Without a protocol, complicated studies are likely to suffer due to inconsistent decisions. When research centres such as MCHP produce anonymized data sets for outside investigators, protocols are especially valuable. The Protocol includes many links to relevant resources including concepts, meeting notes, and other documents.

One such link is to a project management page(facilitate management and documentation of study information; internal access only). Good project management is important for any study; the most effective way of managing any given study depends upon a number of factors, such as its size and complexity. At the outset of a project, a system of communication should be established; this might include regularly-scheduled meetings or conference calls, e-mails, Internet-based bulletin boards, and/or project websites.

A basic framework for managing a project using webpages suggests five categories: Project overview; Project team; Study methodology; Study analyses; and Project requirements/deadlines. This framework is easily adaptable for any sized project.