Quantitative Research in Medical Education Part A

MEDED 701A Subject & Catalog Number

Description

 Understanding the principles of quantitative research is essential to interpret and develop medical education research studies. Increasing emphasis on evidence-based decisions in medical education, grounded in rigorous, high-quality research confirm the importance of understanding quantitative research design, methodology, and results. The results of medical education research studies can provide valuable insights into best practices for educators; however, the accuracy and reliability of results from medical education research studies can be profoundly influenced by study design and methods. When medical education research studies lack scientific rigor or suffer from methodologic errors, the utility of studies' results is impacted. In this context, the Quantitative Research in Medical Education course will review how to critically appraise and initiate or collaborate in rigorous quantitative medical education research.
This course will familiarize participants with key principles of quantitative research methodology applicable to educational research in health professions education, and will offer several occasions for participants to apply the concepts in practice. Course topics include reading and analyzing the literature, developing focused research questions and hypotheses, differentiating between different types of quantitative study designs, creating and using basic research tools such as surveys and assessments, and planning for dissemination of research findings.
Throughout the course, participants will review and compare medical education research articles involving the science of teaching and learning, curriculum redesign, evaluation of novel teaching, and learning strategies. These articles will be used to illuminate the characteristics of different quantitative study designs and research methods. Participants will engage in several quantitative study design exercises, as well as examine a variety of validated and novel research tools to answer quantitative research questions.
The primary goal of the course is for participants to build an awareness of key insights in quantitative research methods, so they can better appraise and design research studies in a variety of contexts in medical education.