What is the difference between research and audit?

What is the difference between audit and research?

Simply put
  • Research seeks to create the knowledge used to develop standards of care
    • What is the right thing to do?
  • Audit helps ensure set standards of care are being met
    • Are we doing the right thing?

More details if you are asked to elaborate:
  • Research
    • Based on a hypothesis
    • Generalisable results (usually, depending on external validity)
    • Usually requires ethical approval
  • Audit
    • Based on set standards
    • Local results (usually)
    • Rarely requires ethical approval