Research Credentials Research Articles

Ethical Issues in Researching Higher Education Teaching and Learning

Higher education here is taken to be education beyond school level: often at an institution (a university) that has degree-awarding powers, though some programmes may lead to a diploma, certificate or other award or qualification. Nomenclature around “research” in the associated teaching and learning is contested: professional enquiry, scholarship of teaching and learning, pedagogical research… are some of the terms used. Authors discuss and distinguish such terms. An ethical issue is a circumstance in which a moral conflict arises or is implicit and should be resolved in a morally acceptable way. These include privacy, informed consent, insider research and power relationships within higher education research; there are also fluid challenges around the use of digital contributions. Authors present a narrative exegesis of work in the associated areas, which authors argue will be of use to universities promoting such research, and of particular interest to two groups of academics wishing to systematically develop their practice in ways that contribute to the field: those on teaching-only contracts, who would also demonstrate their research credentials; and researchers from non-education-cognate fields. Authors identify directions for further work.

изико-механические свойства керамических покрытий, получаемых короткоимпульсной лазерной наплавкой порошковой смеси на основе бора

Modern repair production that implements traditional technologies for making restorative coatings has lost its relevance, since it cannot provide the necessary physical and mechanical properties of the coatings. The problem is that in modern metallurgy there is no line of repair additive materials with high strength and technological properties. Therefore, the issues of searching for innovative materials and technologies for their application on the surface of worn parts are relevant and require fundamental research. The aim of the work is to study the physical and mechanical properties of ceramic coatings obtained by short-pulse laser treatment. To achieve this goal, ceramic compositions based on boron carbide, additionally doped with boron nitride (0 to 40% BN), magnesium oxide (2 to 10% MgO) and lithium (5 to 25% LiO), were used. The scientifi c novelty of the research lies in the application of selective laser sintering technologies in the formation of thin coatings (up to 200 μm) under conditions of a short-pulse laser refl ow of powder media. To assess the physical and mechanical properties, laboratory research methods were used, in particular, analysis of the microhardness of the created restorative coatings, microstructure and tribological performance indicators using modern techniques and instrumentation. The research results confi rm the possibility of practical implementation of restorative coatings based on ceramic compounds. The multi-layer ceramic coatings (B4C-BN- MgO-Li2O) up to 200 μm thick showed good workability, low coeffi cient of friction (0.18) and the ability to work under high dynamic loads in the absence of intensive lubrication. The structure of the coatings has a dense adhesive zone with no visible defects. The presented results of studying the physic-mechanical properties of ceramic coatings have high research credentials and practical signifi cance, and their application will improve the durability of machine parts in the conditions of their operation.

PHARMA RESEARCH IN INDIA & ROLE OF CSIR LABORATORIES AND SCIENCE EDUCATION IN INDIA

Dear Reader, It is indeed heartening to note that Dr. D. Srinivasa Reddy, who has close research and professional connections with IDMA and other Pharma Associations and has received Awards also from Industry, has joined the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad as the new Director. Dr. Srinivasa Reddy continues to hold the charge as Director, Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) and the CSIR-IIIM (Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine), Jammu. The fact that Dr. Reddy is simultaneously holding charge of two more leading CSIR Laboratories, while being appointed as the Director of IICT, speaks volumes about his research credentials.

Trends in the Academic Credentials of Matched Dermatology Residency Applicants.

IntroductionResearch can be used to enhance the competitiveness of an application and is associated with a successful match. However, current reports regarding the publication record among prospective dermatology residents may be inaccurate. We sought to accurately assess the research credentials of matched dermatology residency candidates at the time of application.MethodsWe performed a bibliometric analysis to identify published articles of 1152 matched dermatology candidates and calculated the h-index of each applicant at the time of application. Details on article type, first authorship, and dermatology-relatedness of articles were collected.ResultsThe median number of publications was two and the median h-index was 0. At the time of residency application, one-quarter of matched dermatology candidates (24%, n=278) possessed no publications. Over time, the median number of publications (R 0.10, p<0.001) and h-index (R 0.07, p=0.014) of matched applicants increased. The proportion of first-authored articles, dermatology-related papers, and each article type remained constant across application cycles (p>0.0500). An additional graduate degree, completion of a research fellowship, and graduation from a non-US medical school were independently associated with greater research credentials (p<0.0500).ConclusionsEach year, applicants are publishing more articles and have a greater scholarly impact than in previous application cycles. However, the verified publication volume of matched dermatology applicants is strikingly lower than the values reported in national statistics.

The Orthopaedic Match: Defining the Academic Profile of Successful Candidates.

Research productivity forms a vital part of the resident selection process and can markedly affect the chance of a successful match. Current reports regarding the publication record among prospective orthopaedic surgery residents are likely inaccurate. Potential applicants have a poor understanding of the strength of their research credentials in comparison to other candidates. We identified matched applicants from the 2013 to 2017 orthopaedic surgery residency application cycles. We performed a bibliometric analysis of these residents using Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar to identify published articles and calculate the h-index of each applicant at the time of application. Details were collected on medical school, advanced degrees, publication type, first authorship, and article relatedness to orthopaedic surgery. We included 3,199 matched orthopaedic surgery applicants. At the time of application, the median h-index was 0, the median number of publications was 1, and 40% of successful candidates did not hold any publications. The h-index (R 0.08, P < 0.0001) and median number of publications of matched orthopaedic surgery residency candidates significantly increased (R 0.09, P < 0.0001) across application cycles. Furthermore, the proportion of matched applicants without publications at the time of application significantly decreased (R -0.90, P = 0.0350). Conversely, the percentage of articles first-authored by applicants decreased (R -0.96, P = 0.0093), but article relatedness to orthopaedic surgery remained constant (R 0.82, P = 0.0905). Strikingly, notable changes were observed in the type of articles published by successful applicants: the proportion of preclinical studies decreased (R -0.07, P = 0.0041), whereas clinical research articles increased (R 0.07, P = 0.0024). The publication count held by successful orthopaedic surgery applicants is substantially lower than the nationally reported average. Matched orthopaedic surgery candidates demonstrate increasingly impressive research achievements each application cycle. However, increased academic productivity comes at the cost of reduced project responsibility and a shift toward faster-to-publish articles.

Analysis of academic publishing output among 1634 successful applicants in the 2011–2018 neurosurgery residency match

BackgroundResearch productivity is a key criterion for applicant selection reported by residency program directors. Research volume reported on neurosurgery residency applications has risen steadily over the past decade. ObjectivePerform retrospective bibliographic searches of successful applicants who matched into U.S. neurosurgery residency programs from 2011 to 2018, and assess the relationship between academic publishing and residency placement. MethodsGender, MD/PhD status, U.S. News research ranking of medical school, and international medical graduate status (IMG) were determined for 1634 successful applicants from 2011 to 2018. Indexed publications before and after the start of residency were tabulated by Scopus®. Publication counts were stratified by first author, basic/clinical science, case reports, reviews, or other research. We then compared publishing trends across demographic variables and match cohorts. ResultsAverage pre-residency publications increased from 2.6 [1.7, 3.4] in 2011 to 6.5 [5.1, 7.9] in 2018. Men, PhD-holders, Top 20 and Top 40 U.S. medical school graduates, and IMGs had higher pre-residency publication counts overall. After stratifying by match cohort, however, there was no significant effect of gender on pre-residency publications. Applicants matching into residency programs with highly ranked affiliated hospitals had significantly higher pre-residency publications. ConclusionPublishing volume of successful neurosurgery applicants in the U.S. has risen recently and is associated with the stature of matched residency programs. Given the gap between verifiable and claimed research on residency applications, attention is needed to objectively evaluate research credentials in the selection process. The impending phase out of USMLE step 1 scores may increase emphasis on academic productivity.

The Facade of Fit in Faculty Search Processes

ABSTRACT Various concerns regarding the vitality and racial/ethnic composition of the academic profession have prompted new study of faculty search committees and hiring paradigms, most notably examining the term “fit” in candidate appraisals. Yet no study utilizes a candidate evaluation framework to investigate whether or not faculty members truly assess for fit, or if these assessments stifle diversification processes, especially in light of pervasive institutional efforts to reform faculty hiring. This study uses a critical person-environment fit framework and multiple case study methods to investigate how faculty search committee members individually evaluate and collectively select prospective early-career faculty. Results indicate that fit, as system of assumptions, practices, and tactics designed to evaluate and select candidates based on organizational needs, was minimal in faculty searches. Instead, faculty relied heavily on idiosyncratic preferences to evaluate research, teaching, and service credentials, which also contained criterion that directly and indirectly averted diversity. Findings reveal how the review and selection of candidates is as much, if not more, about individual committee preferences than organizational demands or congruence.

‘No additional information required’: creative writing as research writing

The question of whether artistic practice might be construed as a research practice is one that has been pursued extensively since the 1990s. Much in the discourse remains open to contention, though a degree of consensus has emerged on certain key themes: that art is indeed productive of knowledge, that this knowledge is to be understood experientially and non-conceptually, but that it must be framed in a form consistent with established academic procedures. Jen Webb’s several contributions to this discourse provide a valuable context for considering whether it may be possible to overcome the conceptual and practical separation between art and the academy. Using Webb’s work as a frame, this article engages with the debate about the knowledge status of art through a consideration of its contradictions, and suggests that a pragmatic solution is to be found in the operations of the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF), which now accepts the research credentials of creative writing as being self-evident.

Integrated Plastic Surgery Match: Trends in Research Productivity of Successful Candidates.

Plastic surgery continues to be one of the most competitive specialties in the residency match. Research productivity is a key component of the selection process. Nevertheless, potential applicants have a poor understanding of the strength of their research credentials in comparison to other applicants. The authors identified successful applicants from the 2012 to 2017 integrated plastic surgery residency application cycles. The authors performed a bibliometric analysis of these residents using Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar to identify published articles at the time of application. The authors then calculated the h-index of each applicant at the time of application. The authors included 829 integrated residents. The median h-index was 0 (interquartile range, 0 to 3) and the median number of publications was 2 (interquartile range, 0 to 5) for all applicants. The proportion of applicants with at least one publication at the point of application increased significantly over time (60 percent in 2012 versus 76 percent in 2017; p = 0.0072). In addition, the number of publications per applicant increased over time (one in 2012 versus two in 2017; p = 0.0005), as did h-index (0 in 2012 versus 1 in 2017; p = 0.0015). Strikingly, the number and percentage of review articles among applicants increased significantly over this time frame (9 percent versus 14 percent; p = 0.0299). The increasing level of academic productivity among applicants may reflect the increasing competitiveness of the integrated plastic surgery residency application process. As the pressure to compete for a training position increases, students may seek faster-to-publish articles to gain an edge.

Should you write on Wikipedia?

In this episode, we talk about Wikipedia. Is this something that researchers should engage themselves in? What is the greater good? How do you resolve conflicts over facts? And does your research credentials matter for the Wikipedia-community? In 2011 the Guardian wrote an article on this: Wikipedia wants more contributions from academics. Our guest today is Trond Trosterud, professor of Sámi Language Technology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. He’s an administrator on Wikipedia, and have been contributing there the past 14 years.&#x0D; The message from Trosterud is clear: More researches should contribute, especially if they want to get more readers. However, Wikipedia is not a place to publish your new research. The site even states this on their Help-page.&#x0D; The host of this episode is Erik Lieungh.&#x0D; This episode was first published 25 September 2019.

Training of future teacher of music to research activity based on competency approach

The publication highlights the interconnection of research students’ activities and structural elements of their professional competence: personal, that reveals knowledge, experience in national and universal culture, shows values and artistic worldview; social, that is related to the environment, social life and social activities; subjective, that reproduces integration of professional artistic, professional performing, psychological and educational activity; methasubjective, that concerns creativity and usage of the system of methods of professional self-improvement and self-organization. Despite the fact that research work is the priority area in the educational process of the higher educational institutions of artistic direction, the problem of involving first-year students of I-II accreditation educational institutions to research work is still out of scientists’ sight. The analysis of first-year students’ basic music education has been carried out and it showed different levels not only of their musical knowledge but also of musical performing and auditory experience. The current disadvantages of the training process of future music teachers is outlined: professional training outruns the process of a teacher-researcher training; research credentials of such disciplines as "Main musical instrument", "Voice training", "Choral Conducting", "Additional musical instrument" is not used to the full extent. The main attention is paid to the reasoning of the choice of the mini-investigation as a form of first-year students’ involvement into research activities; the topic "Literary texts of vocal works by L Beethoven "Malynovka" in verse of G. Bürger and "Babak" in verse of J. Goethe" was chosen; the object, the subject, the objectives, methods and practical meaning of mini-investigation were determined; single-step objectives of the study aims realization were examined. The result of the work was the performance of vocal works in the original language. It is established that the implementation of mini-investigation into the educational process has led to a positive influence on the incidence of professional competence not only for the student, but also for a teacher.

Evidence and its consequences in educational research

We begin by arguing that the continuing dominance of ‘evidence‐based’ thinking in educational policymaking does serious harm to the notion of evidence itself; also that it brings a loss of coherence to education as a practice that might wish to be regarded as a coherent and research‐informed one. The second section of the article suggests that the invidious consequences of ‘evidence‐based’ thinking are likely to continue unless energetically challenged by a vibrant and robust understanding of education as a practice in its own right. In elucidating such an understanding, we investigate closely the notions of practice and practitioner, and their intrinsic connections, drawing on landmark researches on practice by authors like Alasdair MacIntyre and Joseph Dunne. Building on the understanding of education as a practice in its own right, the third section argues that the Dewey‐inspired notion of justified warrant, rather than proof or replicability, is more appropriate to research claims made in education. Here we focus in particular on action research, which has experienced recurring difficulties in having its research credentials recognised.

The Match: Magic Versus Machines.

The Match: Magic Versus Machines.

Priorities in the Neurotology Fellowship Match: A Survey Study of Program Directors and Fellows.

To ascertain motivations and priorities for neurotology fellowship applicants and program directors during the match process. Anonymous online survey distributed to 20 fellowship program directors and 40 current and incoming neurotology fellows. A 5-point Likert scale was used to assess the priorities of fellowship applicants and program directors in the match process. Twenty-four of 40 (60%) current or incoming fellows and 14 of 20 (65%) program directors responded to the survey. Fellows rated surgical exposure and volume as their highest priorities. In addition to neurotology case load, fellows highly valued exposure to otologic surgery. Salary, call, and work/life balance were among the lowest rated factors among fellows. Program directors attached the highest priority to the applicant interview performance, followed by strength of letters of recommendation and quality of prior research. Ethnicity, sex, and likelihood of an applicant ranking a program highly were the lowest rated factors among program directors. Among neurotology fellows, operative case load and breadth of surgical exposure are highly valued components of accredited fellowship training. Among neurotology fellowship program directors, candidates' performance during the fellowship interview appears to be highly valued, more so than the strength of applicants' letters of recommendation or prior research credentials.

Statins: All you need to know

Despite quality and outcomes framework (QOF) targets and impressive research credentials, statins remain underused. Even in those on the medication, statins have failed to reach their full potential in preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD). The reasons for both appear to be multifactorial and probably include public perception, clinician reluctance to switch or up-titrate, as well as concordance issues. This article aims to explain the reasons why statins are important in the adult population, and will provide the prescribing information to enable confident and informed choices to be made by patients and clinicians. The focus is on lipid-lowering drug actions in older adults, rather than on the multitude of potential therapeutic actions of statins, such as treatment of multiple sclerosis and cancer.

Not the Last Word: Ending The Residency Application Arms Race-Starting with the USMLE.

Not the Last Word: Ending The Residency Application Arms Race-Starting with the USMLE.

Interventions for Serious Mental Disorders: Working With Individuals and Their Families

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Book ReviewsFull AccessInterventions for Serious Mental Disorders: Working With Individuals and Their FamiliesHarriet P. Lefley, Ph.D.Harriet P. LefleySearch for more papers by this author, Ph.D.Published Online:1 Feb 2016https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.670207AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail by Christina E. Newhill; Boston, Pearson, 2015, 534 pagesSerious mental disorders typically require a multipronged treatment approach that is both pharmacological and psychosocial. This book is oriented toward social workers, who are frontline purveyors of the many psychosocial services needed by most individuals with a serious mental disorder. The book also demonstrates ways of working with patients’ families to provide support, ease caregiver burden, and help facilitate recovery. The author, Christina E. Newhill, Ph.D., has both academic and research credentials. She is a professor in the School of Social Work and professor in the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. Currently she is coinvestigator on a project on brain imaging, cognitive enhancement, and early schizophrenia funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.This is a huge book, a compendium of every conceivable issue related to treatment of serious mental disorders. At the societal level, the overview ranges from the historical background of how societies have conceptualized and cared for persons with serious mental disorders to contemporary educational and advocacy resources for families, such as those provided by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. At the treatment level, effective case management, treating clients from diverse cultural backgrounds as well as a range of age and gender groups, ways of engaging families, and working with involuntary clients are examples of relevant issues. The text discusses discrete approaches to treatment of schizophrenia, paranoid and major mood disorders, specific personality disorders, substance abuse, and other comorbid or co-occurring conditions. There are good discussions of research-based treatment or psychiatric rehabilitation models, such as cognitive remediation and social skills training. Engaging resistant clients, working in multidisciplinary teams, and facilitating rehospitalization when needed are other areas of interest. Important sections range from the current status of public mental health systems to relevant legal and ethical issues, especially with respect to civil commitment and the “dangerous person standard.”Case management, essential for this population, is discussed in considerable detail, from the basic elements of community support systems to finding permanent supportive housing. On the individual treatment level, guidelines for developing and maintaining a therapeutic alliance are later wonderfully enhanced by a research-triggered discussion of clinicians’ negative feelings and attitudes and other affective challenges to working effectively with persons with serious mental disorders.As part educational overview and part treatment manual, many sections of this book are enhanced by actual case histories and examples of effective interventions. In summary, although specifically aimed toward improving core competences of clinical social workers, this encyclopedic work would be a valuable resource for any mental health professional working with persons with serious mental disorders.Dr. Lefley is professor emerita for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.The reviewer reports no financial relationships with commercial interests. FiguresReferencesCited byDetailsCited ByNone Volume 67Issue 2 February 01, 2016Pages e3-e3 Metrics PDF download History Published online 1 February 2016 Published in print 1 February 2016

Journalism Can Establish its Credentials—All it Takes is a Little Research

The critical difference between the academic and journalism research comes at the beginning. While the academic project is subject to scrutiny and approval by university-based ethics committees, the journalistic project is not subject to the same requirements. However, this should not serve to devalue the journalism relative to the academic alternative. For Journalism to establish its research credentials in academe it needs to do a better job at selling itself: at explaining not just what it does, but how it does it.

Evaluación de las revistas españolas: pasos hacia un sistema que mida la apertura y la internacionalidad

This paper has as its starting point the premise that it is useful for the Spanish research ecosystem to have consolidated, open journals with international influence. Evaluation of journals is important because of the role of publications in establishing research credentials. Features required to achieve a balanced and fair evaluation system are described. The tools currently available to this purpose in Spain have major limitations. A proposal based on the ISOC database is presented, providing new assessment criteria that combine the trajectory or track record, openness and internationality of the Spanish humanities and social sciences academic journals.

The role of research in the mental health nurse consultant

Using a facilitated discussion forum, a group of mental health nurse consultants in Scotland, along with senior clinical nurse leaders, sought to better understand their collective research contribution along with potential barriers that may exist. The underlying belief was that research is important and an essential aspect of the nurse consultant role, whereas evidence presented suggests the reality is research is infrequently prioritised within the role. Additionally, this article suggests that nurse consultants play down their research credentials under the guise of audit or service improvement, which may unnecessarily perpetuate the perception that they do not undertake research.