First, you need to thing about what you want to know- a question that you have. (And, you should be able to wright the question in one sentence- trickier than it sounds) While tacking something on to someone else's project is always possible, and can help things move along, your lack of interest will slow you down. Are you interested in any particular field? Is there someone you work well with? Start talking with different people about research interests, because it can take a while to make a good match. Unless you are truely interested, try to avoid having the attending hand you a research project.
Now it is time to do the literature search. Talk with your librarian. Often they can do extensive searches for you- which will save you lots of time. Librarians are also very good about ferriting out papers less experienced searchers will miss. Nothing worse than presenting your project only to be asked- "didn't you read so-and-so's paper on . . . which directly answered this question?"
This is also the time to modify your question. Do you want to look at a specific population? Different disease process? You also have to figure out how you are going to answer your question. Retrospective or prospective? Survey or controlled trial? Observational? How many subjects will you need? Your research coordinator should be able to help you with power calculations. How will you get informed consent? Do you need informed consent? If you are doing a trial, how will you randomize? What will be the placebo or control arm? If you are doing a survey, do you have an appropriate tool? If not, you will need to develop one and test it out. This part sounds overwhelming, and it can be. Your research guide will help you with all of this.
Next, anything that needs IRB approval must have any changes in protocol, additional studies, etc, MUST have another IRB approval! This committee can be the bane of your existance. The committee is supposed to watch out for the welfare of your subjects. Often times, it turns out to be a way for people to fullfill their research desires vicariously. Even a chart review project will require an IRB approval, because you are gaining access to confidential material. Heaven help you if you are doing something that involves more than one institution!
Chart reviews usually go fairly quickly. They often don't need informed consent, but will require IRB approval. Surveys often go quickly as well, but you have to be careful about the instrument as you can quickly end up with garbage if it isn't done and tested correctly. Resident fatigue is very invogue right now, and would easily lend itself to a survey or observational study. Clinical trials can be done, but will likely take more time than you have. A faculty member I know did a study on patient health education and diabetes- having the patients sit at a computer to go through some questions such as what was your last HbA1C, etc., and then prompting them to ask their resident about labs, etc. You could also do some very interesting economic clinical studies in a short period of time.
Research can be very interesting and rewarding intellectually. I knew a couple of students who were sent to national meetings with expenses paid to present their research. There are monetary prizes occasionally. I'm sorry for this being soooo long, but I really like research. I hope this helps you some.
