Research Skills Research Articles

Empowering Early Career Researchers: The Jackson Heart Study Smith Scholars Program.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center Graduate Training and Education Center houses the Robert E. Smith, MD, Scholars Program, a two-year certificate program that equips predoctoral trainees from five Mississippi universities with advanced research skills in cardiovascular epidemiology. Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the program focuses on addressing health disparities, minority health, and health inequities in underserved communities. Trainees receive mentorship, career coaching, and a $7,500 annual stipend, building a foundation for postdoctoral opportunities and expanding professional networks. The Smith Scholars Program emphasizes population health and provides interdisciplinary training in areas such as biostatistics, scientific communication, and cardiovascular health. It is uniquely positioned to address systemic challenges, particularly in Mississippi, a state with high cardiovascular disease prevalence and limited research funding. The program's regional advantage and its partnership with the Jackson Heart Study offer scholars exposure to health disparities in Black/African American communities, preparing them to contribute to innovative, community-based research. Additionally, it fosters collaborative science, enabling participants to overcome academic barriers and engage with large-scale health equity research efforts. The Smith Scholars Program has been instrumental in shaping the career trajectories of its participants, facilitating their transition to postdoctoral positions and independent research roles.

Creating Collaborative Spaces for Community College Faculty and Staff to Discuss Pedagogy

ABSTRACT Research from undergraduate and K-12 environments suggests that providing meaningful support for Community College students requires faculty and staff to engage in ongoing self-reflection, peer support, and a commitment to research-based pedagogical shifts. Currently, California Community College (CCC) faculty and staff get very few of these opportunities. This study aims to address this issue through an intervention designed to provide opportunities for CCC faculty and staff to be part of a flexible, coherent professional learning community. The intervention is part of an NSF-funded research and development project at a community college in central California designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), with the goal of providing faculty and staff with tools and processes to support students toward higher retention and success in STEM by facilitating “micro-internships.” Micro-internships are designed to reduce inequalities inherent in the traditional internship paradigm by providing access to professional and research skills for students who do not have the opportunities and/or confidence to participate in a more traditional full-length internship. Conversations with participants showed how they embraced the design principles that were negotiated as a project team, and how one or more of the study interventions had played a powerful role in supporting their learning and development toward certain pedagogical shifts. Our results highlight the power of providing spaces such as summer workshops and ongoing “community of practice” meetings for collaboration, professional learning, and peer-to-peer mentorship.

Analisis Keterampilan Riset Mahasiswa Melalui Karya Ilmiah Pada Mata Kuliah Bioteknologi Dengan Model Project Base Learning

The 21st century learning trend emphasizes skills, not just knowledge. Among the emerging competencies are learning and innovation, which are very possible to be accommodated at the higher education level. In order to realize this, research skills are an important competency that must be possessed by students and are the outlet of the studies carried out. This study is a quantitative descriptive study that analyzes research skills in students' scientific work which is the output of the biotechnology course. The research skills aspect is based on the Research Skill Development (RSD) developed by Willison and O'Regan which has been modified. Based on the results of the analysis of scientific work which is the output of the biotechnology course, students achieved a score of 81 with a very good category. However, there are several aspects that still need to be strengthened. The lowest aspect of research skills is presenting problems, namely with a score of 2.0 and is categorized as lacking. The aspect that is also categorized as lacking is literature search which strengthens the analysis with a score of 2.2. Students need to strengthen their skills in literature search as an effort to deepen their findings. Further research can be directed at the implementation of problem-based learning combined with science writing heuristic as an effort to strengthen the aspects of problem presentation and literature search in research skills.

The rebirth of home chemistry experiments: An international perspective and the Ukrainian context

The use of home chemistry experiments has experienced a resurgence in recent years, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for remote learning solutions. This perspective article examines the rebirth of home chemistry experiments from an international viewpoint, with a specific focus on the Ukrainian context. We differentiate between household and home chemistry experiments, discussing their advantages and challenges based on the work of Ukrainian educator Andrii Kyrylovych Hrabovyi and recent studies. The impact of home chemistry experiments on chemistry education is explored through international case studies from the United States, Finland, South Africa, and Brazil. We argue that even with the return to normal learning conditions in Ukrainian schools, home chemistry experiments should occupy a leading position among the means of teaching chemistry due to their ability to develop design and research skills, foster a caring attitude towards nature, and promote interest in studying chemistry. The experience of Luis Eduardo Doná in developing a home chemistry laboratory kit using affordable and accessible materials is highlighted as an example of how such initiatives can bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical applications. We conclude that while home chemistry experiments remain a necessity in Ukraine, a review of their role in chemical education worldwide can be a significant step towards improving the quality of chemistry education.

Exploring How Female Scientists are Uplifted in Research Networks in STEM Fields in Public Universities in Uganda

Participation in research networks is inevitable for the female scientists in the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields because they provide a platform for collaborative activities. New research communities of women are created to support each other through mentoring, advancing shared research interests, co-organizing conferences with men, participating in the editorial and the publications. It was on this basis that this study explored how female scientists were uplifted by research networks in STEM fields in public universities in Uganda. This study was anchored on the existential phenomenology by Martin Heidegger in the interpretive world view. Eight female scientists in research networks in STEM fields in public universities in Uganda were interviewed and they were selected from the hard applied and hard pure disciplines as classified in Becher and Biglan’s typology of academic disciplines. Using thematic analysis, two themes such as research collaboration activities and capacity development emerged in this study. This qualitative study set out to explore how female scientists were uplifted in research networks in public universities in Uganda.The public universities included Makerere University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Gulu University and Busitema University. Both semi-structured interviews and document check data generation strategies were used in this study. In semi-structured interviews, a sample comprising eight female academics with not less than five years in research networks in public universities were selected, while documents such as the annual reports and strategic plans were used. This study concludes that research networks are uplifting the female scientists in STEM fields in public universities in Uganda because they were internationally exposed, networked, funded, research skills were strengthened, and progressed in career. This study concludes that it was important for female scientists to access physical and human resource in their research networks as this increased their research performance and outputs in STEM fields in public universities in Uganda. This study therefore recommends that, to uplift female scientists in research networks in STEM fields in public universities in Uganda, female scientists in the research networks and senior colleagues should act as ambassadors and mentors to young female scientists in STEM fields

Assessing the impact of micro-credential training in higher education: A pilot study supporting BA dissertations

Introduction: Micro-credentials, endorsed by the European Union for enhancing lifelong learning and employability, offer targeted, flexible learning experiences. This pilot study investigates the impact of integrating micro-credential training into the BA dissertation process for English Studies students at the University of Extremadura. Methodology: The study involved a two-week, in-person micro-credential course, divided into modules on time management, research techniques, and writing skills, supplemented by pre- and post-training surveys to assess students’ needs and the training’s short-term and long-term impact. Seven fourth-year students participated in the study, providing feedback through surveys. Results: The training improved students’ preparedness, confidence, and motivation. Key areas of development included time management, research skills, and emotional resilience. Students reported sustained benefits, applying the skills and strategies learned throughout their dissertation process. Discussion: Findings highlight the training’s positive short-term and long-term impacts, including increased motivation and practical skill application. However, it identifies areas for improvement, such as more training in citation techniques and writing clarity. Conclusions: Micro-credential training effectively addresses gaps in traditional curricula, enhancing students’ readiness for their BA dissertations. Further research with larger cohorts and diverse disciplines is recommended to generalise the findings and refine the microlearning approach.

Twelve Tips for Engaging Medical Students in Rural-Focused Research

Background The future of rural healthcare depends on training the future rural health workforce, and on rural health research that can guide clinical and policy decisions in rural spaces. Promotion of rural healthcare careers usually focuses on clinical aspects of care, and research may be seen as a lower priority. Supporting students to be involved in rural focused research offers the opportunity to broaden the pool of potentially rural interested students, and to develop research and scholarship skills and capacity in the future rural workforce. Aim and method We identify twelve tips that medical schools can adopt to foster medical student participation in research and promote student interest in rural healthcare and rural medical practice. These recommendations are based on a review of literature and our personal experience of conducting rural-focused research activities with medical students. Conclusion Through these twelve tips, we provide a practical framework for enhancing undergraduate medical student exposure to rural-focused research to foster research capacity. This has potential to inspire student interest in future rural medical practice and could contribute to alleviate workforce and research gaps in rural areas.

Research capacity and culture: a survey of Australian Orthopaedic Association members

BackgroundStrong research capacity and culture (RCC) within professional groups predict engagement in high-quality research and the integration of evidence into practice. However, factors affecting RCC participation and development are currently unknown in Australian Orthopaedic Surgeons.Study designCross-sectional survey.MethodsAll Australian Orthopaedic Association members were invited to complete the individual domain of the validated Research Capacity and Culture tool.ResultsOne hundred and sixty-three Australian Orthopaedic Association members (9%) provided survey answers. Survey findings indicated that AOA members scored moderate or high for most RCC domains (14 out of 15). Barriers to the completion of research included a lack of time, other work roles taking priority, and a lack of funds for research.ConclusionThe Australian Orthopaedic Association members surveyed in this study demonstrated adequate research skills and experience, although reported they could benefit from additional support securing funding and navigating specific research tasks. Increasing future collaboration with academic institutions and clinician-researcher roles may enhance the output of high-quality orthopaedic research in Australia.

The Road Home: Building the evidence base for a service delivery model that integrates housing, mental health, medical and legal services.

The evaluation of the Road Home (RH) program has revealed many learnings of interest to practitioners, researchers and evaluators. The focus of this analysis is twofold - on an innovative approach to building an evidence base using a developmental evaluation and action learning design and how research knowledge and skills can be applied in practitioner contexts and be robust, rigorous and above all useful. It particularly features the role of reflective practice, an affordable, underutilised and easy to access evaluation and program improvement method for practitioners working with evaluators and researchers. Appreciating what is involved in approaching evaluation and other forms of organisational research in this way is important if industry collaborations and innovations that bring theory to practice and practice to theory are to be successful.

Students’ perceptions of an artificially intelligent chatbot as a support tool to develop their research skills

PurposeThis research aims to evaluate students’ perception of using a chatbot to develop their understanding of the various parts of a research article, and their ability to apply what they have learned to write a new research plan.Design/methodology/approachThis research is qualitative in approach. The sample contained 10 students on a research skills course as part of the master of educational technologies program. The research instruments consisted of (1) semi-structured interviews to gather the students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of using a chatbot, and (2) observation notes to triangulate the interview results, relating to the students’ application of what they had learned from the teacher and ChatGPT, in new contexts.FindingsThis study found that the use of ChatGPT contributed to developing students’ knowledge of writing a research plan. The students were satisfied with their personalized learning experience, and believed that ChatGPT had improved their autonomy, competence and relatedness. These three variables had played a role in developing their application skill. However, there were concerns about using ChatGPT in learning, like limiting the students’ creativity, human interaction and critical thinking skills. There were also concerns over accuracy, ethics and plagiarism.Originality/valueThe originality of this study lies in its examination of how ChatGPT can help satisfy students' need for autonomy (having more knowledge to communicate with the app and control their choices), competence (feeling more capable of using artificial intelligence [AI] and possessing the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed) and relatedness (being less disappointed when failing to obtain satisfactory responses from the AI application), while improving their skills in application. According to self-determination theory (SDT), these factors affect students’ skills in applying what they have learned to new tasks. Therefore, this study extends the examination of SDT and its effect to include application skill, using qualitative methods to study the relationships between variables in depth.

Learning Outcomes, Benefits, and Challenges of International Research Experiences for Students (IRES): An Exploratory Study of an IRES Program in China

Despite the increasing number of international programs targeting students’ learning of research and intercultural skills, there has been limited holistic investigation of students’ experiences employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. In this study, we incorporated several measures to explore students’ experiences in an International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program, which benefited from the existing partnership between Virginia Tech in the U.S. and Shandong University in China. We examined students’ intercultural competence and interdisciplinary research skills and explored students’ stories of their lived experiences across three cohorts, each with five students, who completed the IRES program. Both open-ended survey responses and interview data demonstrate that the experience allowed students to learn skills involving the various tools, methods, and processes needed to conduct experiments and solve interdisciplinary problems. In particular, qualitative data further demonstrated the influence of the program on students’ desire to pursue graduate degrees and navigate the research process. While the behavioral dimension of cultural intelligence did not show a major improvement, student interviews suggested enhanced student abilities in interpersonal interactions, including non-verbal and verbal means for effective communication. We provide explanations for the differences between quantitative and qualitative results. Reflecting on the results, we elaborate on the importance of structural elements necessary for creating international experiences for students and the need to examine students' learning processes using different means of data collection.

Development of Students’ Research Skills in the Context of Multilingual Education

The requirements to research activity and intellectual needs of students increase significantly in the modern conditions of modernization, namely in the conditions of multilingual education. Because the intellectual and scientific potential of the younger generation represents the main factor of future development of every civilized society. In the process of transition to the norm of the new generation, one of the requirements to graduate university is the formation of research abilities. Development of research skills of students in conditions of multilingual education is the subject of the article. The authors analyze the concept of research work, identify the structure of research activity and substantiate the importance and necessity of teaching of research skills. The authors define the concept of research skills and its categories. The research skills can be used to activate students' research potential.

Integrating a Longitudinal Course on the Principles of Research in an Outcomes-Based Undergraduate Medical Education Curriculum.

Teaching and learning approaches can support medical students in developing the research skills necessary to be adept consumers of scientific research. Despite various influencing factors, existing literature on effective strategies in undergraduate medical education remains limited. Using a spiraled curriculum, we created and evaluated a longitudinal course to enhance medical students' research abilities. During a recent curriculum renewal at one medical school, a three-year longitudinal course on the principles of research was developed and implemented. The innovation of this course includes the sequential nature and deliberate redundancy of curriculum content, how new knowledge is linked to prior learning, and the progressive level of difficulty in knowledge application and skill development. The authors analysed faculty members' and students' satisfaction and their perceptions of each session of the course using program evaluation data collected between 2019 and 2021. Both faculty members and students recognized the benefits of revisiting concepts and highlighted learning outcomes like improved synthesis of information, explaining findings to patients, and enhanced critical thinking. The adoption of a spiraled curriculum in undergraduate medical education offers a systematic approach for developing students' research skills. The positive reception of this innovation underscores its potential to help future health professionals form a professional identity as adept researchers. However, its implications demand careful consideration and ongoing evaluation to ensure that the desired outcomes are sustained.

Measuring the impact of concept knowledge and laboratory intervention on pre-service kindergarten teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge in science education

ABSTRACT K-12 science education is essential for cultivating students’ scientific talents, with teachers playing a critical role in this process. This study investigates the effects of conceptual knowledge and laboratory interventions on pre-service kindergarten teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), deriving water as a topic for science activities. Thirty-three pre-service teachers were divided into three groups: Group 1 received lectures on science knowledge, Group 2 participated in lectures supplemented by laboratory experiments, and the third group served as the control group. A mapping approach is utilized to assess the development of PCK among participants. The results revealed that both intervention groups demonstrated significantly improved PCK compared to the control group (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between the two intervention groups regarding PCK enhancement. Based on these results, we argue the importance of cultivating scientific content knowledge among pre-service education students. Additionally, the science curriculum for these students should differ from common STEM programs, focusing more closely on the scientific knowledge and inquiry skills they will need in their future teaching.

Exploring the Effects of Using AI Technologies in Higher Education Institutions in UAE

This study aimed to explore the effects of using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in higher education institutions in UAE on students and faculty members. Through designing a survey on Google Form and adopting a descriptive analytical approach, the intended goals were met. This survey employs the five point Likert scale and includes two main parts. The first part collects data about (gender, name of the university, and academic rank). The second part targets two areas. The first area is the effects of using AI technologies in higher education institutions in UAE on students and the second area is the effects of using AI technologies on faculty members. The researchers shared the survey link on several WhatsApp groups that target faculty members in eight universities in UAE. The survey was filled by 244 faculty members. Thus, the purposive sampling method was used. SPSS program was used for conducting an analysis for the collected data. It was found that using AI technologies in higher education institutions in UAE has positive effects on students and faculty members. In terms of students using AI technologies develops the critical thinking, research, critical thinking and time management skills of students.

Empowering youth as Changemakers for gender-transformative action: a play-based participatory approach in South-East Nepal.

This study explored how youth participatory action research (YPAR) methods, specifically play-based activities integrated with cricket, can engage adolescent girls in Nepal's Terai region to identify and address gender-related health challenges. It aimed to assess how these methods contribute to empowering girls, developing research capacities, and promoting gender equity through sports. Three interactive workshops were held with adolescent girls forming 'Cricket Changemakers' teams. Through a combination of cricket-based activities, participatory games, and discussions, the workshops aimed to build research skills and explore gender issues in their communities. Qualitative data were gathered through observations, reflective notes, and outputs from play-based tasks. Data were analysed using framework analysis to evaluate the contribution of these activities to key YPAR processes such as power sharing, communication, and strategic thinking. The play-based methods improved collaboration, networking, and communication among participants. The cricket activities fostered collective power and provided opportunities for girls to reflect on and challenge local gender norms. Participants identified issues including restrictions on mobility, societal expectations, and the unequal distribution of household chores. The workshops facilitated the development of research action plans focused on increasing girls' participation in cricket and shifting community perceptions of girls' roles. The integration of play-based YPAR methods shows promise for fostering gender-transformative change among adolescent girls in Nepal. These methods created a space for girls to express challenges and co-develop strategies for social change. Findings suggest that sports-based participatory research can be a valuable tool in public health interventions for gender equity, though more work is needed to address methodological challenges and ensure meaningful participation.

Studying the Relationship between the Teaching Status of Research Methods, Biostatistics Courses and, Academic Research Skills, from the Graduates Point of View

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between passing biostatistics and research methods courses and academic research skills in graduates. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 633 graduates during 2016-2022 from Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The explanatory factors were passing biostatistics and research methods courses and having statistical consultant. The outcomes were the duration of preparing proposal and thesis, and paper publication. Univariate and multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with %95CI. Significance level was set to 0.05 Results: 433 (68.4%) were female, and 371 (58.6%) were married. The mean±SD age of the graduates was 34.5±7.06 years. 413 (65.2%) were graduates from MSc and MPH and 128 (20.2%) from PhD. For Masters and MPH, the odds of prolonging the duration of preparing the proposal for who had Biostatistical consultant in their research team was 40% lower than the graduates who had no Biostatistical consultant (OR=0.6[95%CI:(0.39,0.91], P=0.01). In PhD graduates, the odds of prolonging the duration of preparing the proposal for who passed research methods course was 2.94 (1.06, 8.2) times than that of did not pass (P=0.03). Passing Biostatistics course was associated with lower odds of prolonging the duration of preparing thesis (OR=0.3[95% CI: (0.1, 0.86)], P=0.04). The odds of paper publication was marginally associated with research methods workshop participation (OR=3.7[95%CI: (0.82, 16.74], P=0.09) in PhD graduates. Conclusion: Passing Biostatistics and research methods courses and presence of a statistical consultant in the students’ thesis team were associated with shortened proposal or thesis preparation duration, and having publications from thesis more likely.

Necessary Competencies for The Completion of a Thesis: Students’ Perceptions

Research is a core skill in university education, which allows students to develop knowledge and skills to intervene in their professional field. However, there are areas of opportunity to complete an investigation, and the context of the present study is no exception. According to this background, the objective is to characterize the students’ competencies to develop a thesis and identify obstacles in its preparation, presentation, and defense. Concerning methodology, a transversal quantitative approach was used by applying a questionnaire, finding that participants manage some techniques, abilities, competencies, and knowledge and identifying difficulties centered on lack of knowledge and investigative skills. In conclusion, students do not complete their work because theoretical foundations are not put into practice since there are ambiguities in knowledge conceptualization and the operationalization of research skills. The contribution of this study lies in identifying the difficulties in preparing a thesis, which can allow teachers to design an appropriate didactic intervention to meet students’ needs for the successful completion of their research and foster interest in the inquiry.

Recovered History: Chicanx Representation in the Dual Credit Classroom

Abstract Recent legislation in Texas effectively prohibits K-12 educators from addressing issues of racism and explicitly prevents teachers from discussing the place of racism in Chicanx relations across Texas history. University educators, and dual-credit instructors especially, must intercede if future generations of learners are going to encounter the true and complete history of border culture, colonialism, and the complex relationship that Chicanx people have with the Southern region of the United States. I argue that the use of digital archives and recovered history like the internet project Are We Good Neighbors? Mapping Discrimination Against Mexicans in 1940s Texas, which catalogs racial discrimination through individual testimony, the Library of Congress database of Mexican American documents, and Chicano! History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement offer educators an opportunity to incorporate key research skills into the classroom while also establishing a linear context for liminality as a feature of identity formation in contemporary Chicanx literature. The combination of research and critical inquiry is vital to instructing students on the realities of Chicano relations and introducing them to the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement, a key element of American history that is not only conspicuously absent from most K-12 curricula but also an inescapable influence on identity formation and contemporary discussions around Mexican American relations. The use of digital archives to recover and center Chicanx history is actionable on a small scale and serves as an important opportunity to resist anti-ethnic legislation in real time, a vital act of subversion that sidesteps prolonged challenges to censorship at the legislative level.

Partnering for Progress: Lessons Learned From Mental Health Assessment for Youth Living With HIV in India Through Community-Based Participatory Research

Youth living with HIV (YLHIV) face diverse mental health challenges necessitating interventions informed by their lived experiences. Failure to do so can perpetuate a self-reinforcing cycle of misaligned and ineffective support, further exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. This study directly addresses this gap by using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to empower YLHIV in India to address their mental health challenges. YLHIV actively participated in adapting and implementing a culturally responsive mental health screening program. The study, incorporating CBPR principles at every step aimed to identify practical methods for integrating YLHIV voices in research, and showcase the value of YLHIV participation in co-creating and implementing impactful interventions. Six youth investigators aged 18-24, born with HIV and residing in southern Indian states underwent certification in human subjects’ protection and training in mental health screening and survey administration techniques. They actively shaped the research process by culturally adapting standardized mental health screening tools (PHQ-9, GAD-7) through iterative discussions with experts, drawing on their own perspectives. Following field assessments of the mental health screening tools among their peers, they documented their reflections in surveys and written essays. Youth investigators’ involvement improved the research process by optimizing tools, combating stigma, and facilitating reliable data collection. Beyond data collection, the youth investigators’ participation significantly boosted their own knowledge, self-confidence, and research skills. This study serves as an illustrative model of CBPR in mental health research among YLHIV, highlighting the importance of interactive training, continuous feedback mechanisms, and respectful youth engagement in fostering impactful research that can inform tailored sustainable interventions.