AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Know the principles of evidence-based research and the preparation of a research project

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Provide students with the tools to plan a study and apply the results in clinical practice: know the objectives and areas of application of the various types of research, know how to classify the sources of biomedical information, know the design, objectives and main bases of observational and experimental study, learn methods and tools of the process that lead from the research question to the study design.

At the end of the course the student will have acquired the tools and knowledge necessary to carry out a systematic review of the literature, will have acquired the tools necessary to critically analyze a scientific article and apply the results to clinical practice and the knowledge necessary to structure and design a study using different research approaches consistent with the defined goal.

TEACHING METHODS

Theoretical lessons (16 hours of training) on the topics covered by the program, with interaction and practice in the classroom

In case of emergency, when possible and according to the university indications, the activities will be carried out online.

Students with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with any special needs, shall reach out to the Lecturer(s) and to the dedicated SLD Representative in the Department before class begins, in order to arrange the specific teaching methods and ensure proper achievement of the learning aims and outcomes.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

General section (Nicola Traverso)

The philosophy of science: definition and historical basis; the scientific method; the methods of reasoning (abduction, deduction, induction); the syllogism; so-called “truth determination methods”; statistical correlations and causal correlations; epistemology; concept of methodology.

Pure and applied research: differences and integrations.

Method phases: identification of the problem as a lack of knowledge; background learning; hypothesis formulation; research design; choice of methodologies; data collection and analysis; comparison with the initial hypothesis; any new hypotheses.

The communication of scientific data.

Example of a research project.

Applied part (Anna Lisa Furfaro)  

- Research and scientific research concept

- Definition of method and scientific method

- Research methodology: from the idea to the drafting of a project, to the writing of a scientific article, to the presentation of data at a congress (poster, oral communication)

- Importance of scientific background and literature review for drafting a project/article

- Tools to carry out a careful and good review of the literature: how to carry out a bibliographic survey, search engines

- Bibliometric indexes: databases (Scopus-WOS); impact factor journals; h-index authors; article citations

- Concept of idea: feasibility, novelty, ethics, relevance

- Question concept: Examples of question categories in health research

- How to write an abstract for a congress and prepare a poster or an oral communication

- How to write a scientific article

- How to write a science project

- Practical part: preparation of a paper (abstract for a scientific conference, review, original scientific article)

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Educational material will be provided by the teachers

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

First semester of the current academic year

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will consist of a written research project in the field chosen by the candidate. The use of the internet will be permitted to search for sources. The written project will then be discussed with one of the two professors, randomly.

In case of emergency, when possible and according to the university indications, the activities will be carried out online.

The basic elements of the subject must be known for the exam to be considered sufficient.

During the exam, the rules regarding the evaluation method of students certified as DSA or with other educational needs indicated by the University will be respected. (e.g.: additional time in the case of written exams, use of concept maps to be viewed for approval by the professors at least one week before the exam date)

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The learning assessment is done through the drafting of a research project and its subsequent oral discussion

The written exam aims to ascertain the practical learning of the construction of a research plan with its parts structured correctly. The oral exam aims to discuss with the student the reasons for the choice of the project, and its organization, and possibly to understand and evaluate any inaccuracies included in the research plan from the point of view of research methodology. Furthermore, the oral exam aims to ascertain the actual acquisition by the student of the expected learning outcomes.

For the final assessment, the following aspects will be assessed: the ability to choose research topics of current interest and motivation; the ability to organize the research project in a scientifically valid manner, on the model of examples provided during the lessons; the logical consequentiality of the various parts of the written project, the ability to discuss the project in all its parts, possibly justifying one's choices, the ability to present and adopt appropriate specialist terminology, the ability to deal with the topics in a transversal and critical manner, the ability to connect the different topics covered in class.

The basic elements of the subject must be known in order for the exam to be considered sufficient.

During the exam, the rules regarding the evaluation method of students certified as DSA or with other educational needs indicated by the university will be respected. (e.g.: additional time in the case of written exams, use of concept maps to be viewed for approval by the teachers at least one week before the exam date)