Human subject research is systematic, scientific investigation that can be either interventional (a "trial") or observational (no "test article") and involves
human beings as research subjects. Human subject research can be either medical (clinical) research or non-medical (e.g., social science) research. Systematic investigation incorporates both the collection and analysis of data in order to answer a specific question. Medical human subject research often involves analysis of
biological specimens,
epidemiological and behavioral studies and medical chart review studies. (A specific, and especially heavily regulated, type of medical human subject research is the "
clinical trial", in which drugs, vaccines and medical devices are evaluated.) Human subject research in the social sciences often involves surveys, questionnaires,
interviews, and
focus groups.