Research-related Tasks Research Articles

Emil Habdank Dunikowski (1855–1924). Rys życia zawodowego i prac naukowych

Emil Habdank Dunikowski (1855–1924) – Career and Research Outline Emil Lucjan Habdank Dunikowski – a graduate of the Lviv (Lwów), Munich and Vienna Universities, belongs to the circle of the Polish most significant scientists who specialized in Earth sciences and pursued their careers in the Lviv of the Austrian era. Sociable, diligent, and curious about the world, he devoted his time to discovering the mysteries of geology, actively developing Polish research in Galicia. While performing his research-related tasks in various parts of the globe (for example in North Africa, North America, Europe, and Russian Primorsky Krai), he satisfied his passion for travelling, delivering accurately made descriptions of broadly defined nature. In biographical contexts, the Lvovian scientist is seldom mentioned. Despite his undisputable scientific achievements and extensive travel experiences, there has yet to be a comprehensive biographical and bibliographical study dedicated to him. This article outlines his scientific profile and presents some unknown facts from Emil Dunikowski’s private life and career, based on the documents obtained from the State Archives of Lviv Oblast in Lviv (Ukraine).

Problem-based learning in research method courses: development, application and evaluation.

The undergraduate curriculum in Indonesia generally requires students to take a research methods course as a prerequisite course for the preparation of scientific reports. The objective of this course is to teach students how to present research results both orally and in writing using the styles and forms of each university. However, this course is not popular among students because the material is complex and technical. As a result, there is a gap between learning outcomes and their application when students prepare scientific reports. Improving pedagogy and teaching interventions through student-developed research projects is important in complementing lectures. The purpose of this study was to analyze the improvement of students' ability in writing scientific reports through research method courses using problem based learning (PBL). This research was a case study to report the integration of scientific report writing in research methods courses through PBL at the Universitas Islam Bandung in Indonesia. PBL was implemented by involving students in research-related tasks with the following stages: writing research questions, determining the research design, collecting data, analyzing data, and presenting research results. The research results showed that there was an increase in scientific writing skills in the good category. Normalized gain for indicators of increasing accuracy using research report formats, suitability for using literature and research methods is 0.064 and 0.209, including the low category, and the plagiarism level is 0.509, including the medium category. This finding implies that assigning students to write scientific reports using PBL in the research method classroom is useful for improving learning outcomes, presentation, reasoning, communication, ambiguous problem-solving, and reducing plagiarism. The findings of this study strengthen the findings of previous researchers, namely increase students' abilities in using formatting to prepare scientific reports, using appropriate literature, mastering research materials as well as reducing the level of plagiarism.

An analysis of the use of artificial intelligence in education in Spain: The in-service teacher’s perspective

This study surveyed 445 primary, secondary, and higher education teachers to understand their usage of AI tools in the classroom. Results revealed that while teachers generally have a positive attitude toward AI in education, only 25% of them have actually incorporated AI-based tools into their teaching. Moreover, the most common used tools were ChatGPT, Dall-E, and Midjourney. Finally, primary and secondary school teachers mainly use AI for content creation purposes such as presentations, texts, or videos, without emphasizing student engagement with AI tools. In contrast, higher education teachers utilize AI for academic-technical purposes, explaining AI functioning, obtaining information, and enabling students to experiment with AI tools, as well as research-related tasks like text translation, or data analysis. Based on these results, AI training programs for educators should be tailored to each stage, incorporating a wider variety of AI tools beyond the commonly used ones like ChatGPT.

A Structural Equation Model on the Organizational Research Culture of College Instructors in Davao Region

This study aimed to establish the best-fit model of organizational research culture as influenced by attitudes, capabilities, and self-efficacy toward academic research of college instructors in Davao Region. The research design used in the study was descriptive-causal design through structural equation modeling. Using a simple random sampling method, a survey questionnaire was administered to the 380 college instructors in selected private and public schools in Region XI. Findings show high attitudes, capabilities, self-efficacy, and organizational research culture. Also, there is a significant relationship and influence in attitudes, capabilities, and self-efficacy towards academic research of college instructors on organizational research culture. There was a direct causal effect of attitudes and capabilities in academic research of college instructors on organizational research culture. Moreover, the model illustrates the total indirect or mediated effect of Capabilities on organizational research culture. This, in turn, has the potential to influence the overall culture of the institution. The capability-mediated effect can impact the research culture by facilitating individuals' participation in research-related tasks and promoting a research-focused atmosphere. It is recommended to intensify and strengthen the existing policies about research in any academic institution.

When will scientists say yes? Antecedents, consequences and limitations of crowdfunding in research

ABSTRACT Crowdfunding in research refers to raising funds by scientists for various research related tasks using crowdfunding platforms. In spite of growing academic interest, there is still a lack of understanding of the various aspects of the above concept. In particular, identification of antecedents, consequences, and limitations is important in predicting future intentions of scientists in the context of crowdfunding in research. We conducted qualitative research using 40 free-form interviews with management academics representing a wide spectrum of positions at public and private universities in Poland. Based on that, we hereby provide a comprehensive framework that allows you to understand why scientists will potentially turn to crowdfunding in research and how they perceive the very concept. Our results show that crowdfunding in research can be encouraged by the following factors: gaining access to funding, legal regulations, replicating successful experience of others, the possibility of obtaining feedback from the public on their research, networking, acceptance of the scientific community, and scientific and social relevance idea. In addition to funding science, building confidence in science and solving social problems are the consequences of crowdfunding in research. In turn, the limitations of crowdfunding in research include the following: uncertainty of results, ostracism on the part of the scientific community, fear of loss of reputation and trust in science, and insufficient adjustment of existing crowdfunding platforms to the requirements of science.

Female university academics' reflections on the development of their academic careers in the Norwegian higher education context

The present study aims to get insight into how female university academic staff in teaching positions at various levels reflect on the development of their careers in higher education. A qualitative method was used with a participatory action research approach. The data were collected in the form of a workshop and analysed using the story dialogue method. Academic jobs, which are a mixture of teaching and research-related tasks, require that individuals prioritize their time well to be able to do research. In addition, the understanding and support of colleagues and management are crucial to achieving expected research results.

Researchers’ experiences of pharmacy involvement: a UK cross-sectional survey

Abstract Objectives We aimed to explore the experiences and opinions of researchers who have involved pharmacy professionals in research studies. Pharmacy teams are valued healthcare professionals, with a wide knowledge base and skill set. They have regular contact with service users who may be interested in research, placing them in a good position for collaboration with researchers. Methods Cross-sectional survey circulated to researchers in the UK; analysed using descriptive, quantitative methods. Key findings A total of 238 responses were received from researchers, mainly within hospitals and universities. Most had more than 10 years of experience (45%) and had worked on 2–10 studies involving pharmacies (54%), frequently requiring hospital services (74%). Two-thirds of researchers had worked on clinical trials of investigational medicinal products. Most researchers worked with pharmacy teams that all had previous research experience (78%) yet did not involve them in participant recruitment (85%). Pharmacy staff frequently managed or dispensed medication (43%), however also engaged with other research-related tasks. Their previous experience and keenness were desirable qualities for researchers. Many respondents had a positive experience of collaboration and acknowledged various advantages (e.g. developing training/knowledge) and disadvantages (e.g. staffing issues). Conclusions Researchers’ positive impression of working with the pharmacy sector bodes well for future collaborations. Many had experience with pharmacy, however, those more unfamiliar should consider the roles staff could perform; and pharmacy teams and professional bodies should advocate their involvement. For collaboration to prosper, we should promote the benefits of research engagement and consider how to overcome known challenges.

Problem-based learning in research method courses: development, application and evaluation

Background: The undergraduate curriculum in Indonesia generally requires students to take a research methods course as a prerequisite course for the preparation of scientific reports. The objective of this course is to teach students how to present research results both orally and in writing using the styles and forms of each university. However, this course is not popular among students because the material is complex and technical. As a result, there is a gap between learning outcomes and their application when students prepare scientific reports. Improving pedagogy and teaching interventions through student-developed research projects is important in complementing lectures. The purpose of this study was to analyze the improvement of students' ability in writing scientific reports through research method courses using problem based learning (PBL). Methods: This study reports the integration of scientific report writing in research methods courses through PBL at the Universitas Islam Bandung in Indonesia. PBL was implemented by involving students in research-related tasks with the following stages: writing research questions, determining the research design, collecting data, analyzing data, and presenting research results. Results: The results showed that there was an increase in scientific writing skills with good categories on indicators of possible plagiarism using Turnitin, use of report preparation formats, suitability of literature, mastery of research report content in-class presentations. Conclusions: This finding implies that assigning students to write scientific reports using PBL in the research method classroom is useful for improving learning outcomes, presentation, reasoning, communication, ambiguous problem-solving, and reducing plagiarism. The findings of this study strengthen the findings of previous researchers, namely increase students' abilities in using formatting to prepare scientific reports, using appropriate literature, mastering research materials as well as reducing the level of plagiarism.

RAISE (Raising Infants to Be Smart Eaters) Pilot Study.

Background: Many of the complex determinants of obesity originate during infancy when small changes in the environment can permanently influence appetite, behavior, and energy metabolism. Parent feeding style ("how" rather than "what" to feed) has emerged as a potentially important factor in early obesity prevention. Objectives: (1) To assess the feasibility of conducting a brief responsive feeding education intervention by public health nurses during routine well-baby visits. (2) To assess whether this intervention affects parents' attitudes and behavior related to responsive feeding. Methods: Prospective, nonrandomized, comparative pilot study conducted in two communities. Intervention participants were exposed to enhanced responsive feeding education by public health nurses at routine well-baby visits from 0 to 18 months along with wall posters, handouts, automated text messages and tangible takeaways. Parent knowledge and behavior were measured using the Infant Feeding Style Questionnaire and the Toddler Development Index. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed by patients and nurses through open text feedback forms and mid-point and exit interviews. Results: Recruitment (18 intervention; 9 control) and retention fell below targets. Average adherence to protocol by nurses from 0 to 12 months was 89%. Delivery of the intervention was feasible and acceptable, but the additional research-related tasks were challenging in a busy clinical setting. Parents found the different formats and information new and helpful. There was a trend toward less nonresponsive (pressuring, restrictive, laissez-faire) feeding practices in the intervention group. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrated encouraging results related to overall feasibility and effect on parent feeding style.

Accuracy of Simulated Research Tasks by Community Hospitals Participating in a Multicenter Telemedicine Trial.

Background/Aims: Clinical trials evaluating facility-to-facility telemedicine may include sites that have limited research experience. For the trial to be successful, these sites must correctly perform research-related tasks. This study aimed to determine whether health care professionals at community hospitals could accurately identify simulated study eligible patients and submit data to a research coordinating center. Methods: Twenty-seven community hospitals in the United States and Canada participated in this study. An electronic survey was sent to one designated health care professional at each site. The survey included a description of trial eligibility criteria and five written neonatal resuscitation scenarios. For each scenario, the participant determined whether the neonate was study eligible. One scenario required participants to submit 14 data elements to the coordinating center. Accuracy of study eligibility and data submission was summarized using standard descriptive statistics. Results: The survey response rate was 100% (27/27). Overall accuracy in determining study eligibility was 89% (120/135), and accuracy varied across the five scenarios (range 82-93%). Overall accuracy of data submission was 92% (310/336). Data were >95% accurate for 9 of the 14 data elements, with 100% accuracy achieved for 6 data elements. These results were used to clarify eligibility criteria, inform database design, and improve training materials for the subsequent clinical trial. Conclusions: Health care professionals at community hospitals accurately determined trial eligibility and submitted study data based on written clinical scenarios. Research teams conducting telemedicine trials with community hospitals should consider completing pre-trial simulation activities to identify opportunities for improving trial processes and materials.

Willing But Not Quite Ready: Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Research in an Academic Healthcare System.

To describe nurses' research knowledge, attitudes, and practices within an academic hospital system. Hospitals are investing in research resources to meet Magnet® goals and advance the science of nursing, but nurses' specific needs for support are not well characterized and may vary by setting. We conducted an anonymous online survey of RNs at an academic hospital system in 2019-2020 using the validated Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Research Survey. Respondents (N = 99) indicated high willingness to engage in research-related tasks but low or moderate knowledge of and ability to perform them. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of research increased with level of education, although gaps between willingness to engage versus knowledge and ability persisted even among doctorally prepared nurses. Research support for clinical nurses should leverage enthusiasm for research and focus on developing and applying specific practical skills, even among nurses with advanced degrees.

Assessing Comfort in Conducting Research Among Medical Students Interested in Dermatology

Introduction: Participation in research has become increasingly popular amongst US medical students hoping to match into dermatology residency. While medical students have increasingly high research output by the time of graduation, the preparedness of medical students for independent research is unknown. Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed to 137 dermatology interest groups across the country. The survey contained 21 multiple choice and free text questions that assessed students’ research experiences and self-assessed competency in key research components. Fifty-seven students participated. Results: Students were most comfortable with creating posters for presenting research, writing an abstract and reviewing charts to gather pertinent data for research projects. Students reported a below-average comfort level with data analysis. Medical students who participated in more than eight research experiences and those who perform epidemiological research or commentaries have greater confidence in their ability to conduct research. Conclusion: Experience in research is associated with the ability to conduct research independently, but there is significant variance in the comfortability to perform essential research-related tasks.

The BeAMS project: Using inquiry and modeling to introduce students to the research process in an introductory geology laboratory

Students who enter introductory geology classes often have misconceptions about geoscience research, and they seldom have opportunities to gain authentic research experience in these classes. To improve student engagement in the class and understanding of geoscience research methods, a semester-long authentic inquiry research project was incorporated into an introductory geology laboratory class. This project requires students to create scientific models to test the hypotheses they generate, analyze data they collect and reflect on challenges they encounter. The utility of models in conducting geoscience research was emphasized, and student groups chose either visual models, computer models, or physical models for hypothesis testing. The impact of the project was assessed using pre-post surveys to determine changes in student understanding of research methods and student self-efficacy. Student reflections reveal qualitative improvements in both understanding and self-efficacy after project completion. Multiple-choice questions on research methods also support an improved understanding of research methods compared to a control semester. Statistically significant improvements in confidence to perform research-related tasks also demonstrate the value of the project. Completing this project helped students understand the scientific research process and how modeling is used in Earth science research. Implementing the project required significant instructor preparation and buy-in from graduate student teaching assistants (TAs), who acted as mentors to student research groups. Future iterations of this project will include additional conceptual scaffolding for students and increased support for TAs. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10899995.2021.1951080 .

Exploiting Latent Semantic Subspaces to Derive Associations for Specific Pharmaceutical Semantics

State-of-the-art approaches in the field of neural embedding models (NEMs) enable progress in the automatic extraction and prediction of semantic relations between important entities like active substances, diseases, and genes. In particular, the prediction property is making them valuable for important research-related tasks such as hypothesis generation and drug repositioning. A core challenge in the biomedical domain is to have interpretable semantics from NEMs that can distinguish, for instance, between the following two situations: (a) drug x induces disease y and (b) drug x treats disease y. However, NEMs alone cannot distinguish between associations such as treats or induces. Is it possible to develop a model to learn a latent representation from the NEMs capable of such disambiguation? To what extent do we need domain knowledge to succeed in the task? In this paper, we answer both questions and show that our proposed approach not only succeeds in the disambiguation task but also advances current growing research efforts to find real predictions using a sophisticated retrospective analysis.Furthermore, we investigate which type of associations is generally better contextualized and therefore probably has a stronger influence in our disambiguation task. In this context, we present an approach to extract an interpretable latent semantic subspace from the original embedding space in which therapeutic drug–disease associations are more likely.

The persistence of pay inequality: The gender pay gap in an anonymous online labor market.

Studies of the gender pay gap are seldom able to simultaneously account for the range of alternative putative mechanisms underlying it. Using CloudResearch, an online microtask platform connecting employers to workers who perform research-related tasks, we examine whether gender pay discrepancies are still evident in a labor market characterized by anonymity, relatively homogeneous work, and flexibility. For 22,271 Mechanical Turk workers who participated in nearly 5 million tasks, we analyze hourly earnings by gender, controlling for key covariates which have been shown previously to lead to differential pay for men and women. On average, women’s hourly earnings were 10.5% lower than men’s. Several factors contributed to the gender pay gap, including the tendency for women to select tasks that have a lower advertised hourly pay. This study provides evidence that gender pay gaps can arise despite the absence of overt discrimination, labor segregation, and inflexible work arrangements, even after experience, education, and other human capital factors are controlled for. Findings highlight the need to examine other possible causes of the gender pay gap. Potential strategies for reducing the pay gap on online labor markets are also discussed.

ИСКУССТВО В ИСПОЛНИТЕЛЬНОМ АГЕНТСТВЕ: ИЗМЕРЕНИЕ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ РАБОТЫ НАЦИОНАЛЬНОГО МУЗЕЯ СОВРЕМЕННОГО ИСКУССТВА КОРЕИ

Founded in 1969, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) was transformed into an executive agency in 2006 and became the subject of performance management. The purpose of this study is to understand the historical and contextual background of performance management reform in South Korea and its application to MMCA, and also to analyze the mechanism of performance evaluation and its consequence on the management of a national art museum. For the analysis, MMCA’s annual reports, performance evaluation records, public announcements and proposed schemes of previous directors, and other related news, articles and available information from 2007 to 2017 were collated, and the changes in performance evaluation measures (by index weight) were chronologically compared, reorganized and interpreted in regard to the internal situation of the museum and its directorship. The main finding was that overtime performance index weight in the evaluation result shows a growing emphasis on the directorship term related, urgent and more quantifiable performance goals, which are in support of the further reform of MMCA as a corporate entity. Also, the changes in evaluation composition signal a trend that the most prioritized task of each directorship term differed, and this ultimately caused less quantifiable performances, such as art collection and research related tasks, to weaken in emphasis as part of the performance. In conclusion, the performance management of MMCA from 2007 to 2017 had a beneficial side in promoting the result-based performance specifically and had functioned as a governing tool that effectively engaged and pressured certain urgent tasks to completion, but it also had a weakness in keeping the long term stability of directorship and provoking the continuous development of all parts of art related core competency. The consequence of performance management can be argued as limiting the understanding/evaluation of directorship competency to the achievements that are distinguished and identifiable, therefore the result is difficult to argue for its justification and sufficiency as a representable score of the art museum performance.

Master of Science in Nursing students’ expectations to participate in nursing research-related tasks in clinical practice after completing their education – A cross-sectional survey

Objective: To describe Master of Science in Nursing students’ expectations to participate in nursing research-related tasks in daily clinical practice after completing their education.Methods: To support this assumption a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to describe Master of Science in nursing students’ expectations to participate in nursing research-related tasks in daily clinical practice after completing their education. Data were collected using a 41-item structured questionnaire.Results: A convenience sample of Master of Science in Nursing students (n = 116) was recruited during their third semester and 92 (79.3%) students replied the questionnaire. The results showed how 91.3% of the students expressed high expectations regarding their possibilities for participation in nursing research-related tasks in clinical practice. However, 64.1% doubted that time and resources would be allocated to nursing research.Conclusions: The key motivator for the students was to improve patient care, further develop clinical practice, and strengthen the nursing profession. However, the literature suggests that colleagues and the nursing management in clinical practice impose certain barriers that prevent nurses from participating in research.

The positive impact over time of Master’s level education on nurses’ utilization of nursing research-related tasks in clinical practice – A longitudinal cohort study

Objective: To describe and compare the development of Master of Science in Nursing graduates’ utilization and improvement of nursing research-related tasks and knowledge in daily clinical practice, six months and twelve months after graduation.Methods: A longitudinal cohort study of 65 Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduates from a Danish university was conducted from 2016 to 2017. Data were collected six and twelve months after graduation using a purposive-constructed questionnaire based on four validated questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and STATA software (12.0).Results: The overall results of the longitudinal cohort study showed a positive impact 12 months after graduation on the MSN graduates’ development and improvement of their utilization of nursing research-related tasks and knowledge in clinical practice. The results also showed a development in the MSN graduates’ employment in academic positions, as well as an increase in the number of hours per week spent on nursing research-related tasks.Conclusions: Providing nurses with Master’s level knowledge and skills can make a difference for them in clinical practice. However, knowledge is still needed on how the MSN qualification can have an impact on patient care: Future research must focus on practical observations of how the Msn graduates use their academic knowledge and skills to improve patient care, using specific outcomes and observable criteria.

Camouflaging nursing research-related tasks in clinical practice–Experiences of newly-graduated masters of science in nursing

Objective: To explore and describe how newly-graduated Masters of Science in Nursing experienced engaging in nursing research-related tasks in daily clinical practice.Methods: Fifteen nurses withholding a Masters of Science in Nursing degree were recruited from our longitudinal cohort study and interviewed six months after graduation in December 2016 (n = 10) and in December 2017 (n = 5), respectively. Data were analysed using Graneheim and Lundmann’s qualitative manifest and latent content analysis. Lincoln and Guba’s four criteria of trustworthiness were followed.Results: The main theme of the overall interpretation was Camouflaging nursing research-related tasks in clinical practice. The main theme describe the Master of Science in Nursing graduates as highly motivated to use their new academic skills in clinical practice and how they have to hide their engagement in research due to the barriers, which are outlined in the three themes: the position as time restrainer, the management as gatekeeper, and the nursing culture as norm setter.Conclusions: The study contributes with knowledge on how the Master of Science in Nursing graduates struggle to use their academic skills in clinical practice and how they felt the need to camouflage their commitment in research because it was not well reputed among their colleagues.

Structure and evaluation of a residency research program in a university hospital

BackgroundMost academic medical institutions lack a structured program that provides residents with an in-depth research training. The objectives of this paper are to describe a comprehensive residency research program at a university hospital, and to assess the pre- post-self-assessment of research capabilities of resident for the evaluation of the program.MethodsThe residency research program (RRP) was implemented in 2011 as an essential component of the residency program at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. Categorical residents are required to carry out a research project and go through all the steps of the research process from identifying a topic to writing a manuscript. As for evaluating the program, data were collected from residents who graduated between 2014 and 2016 using a questionnaire, which included the overall evaluation of the program, self-assessment on research-related tasks pre- and post- joining the program, as well as general recommendations. The mean scores on the five-point Likert scale were transformed into percentages (0–100%). The average was calculated and the difference in the means was reported.ResultsOverall, 103 residents from the different clinical departments were included in this study. Residents’ self-assessment showed a 19.3% improvement in research-related tasks before and after completion of the RRP (P < 0.0001). Most of the residents have either published or are in the process of publishing their projects (34 and 55.3%, respectively). Time management was the most reported challenge. Generally, the program was evaluated positively.ConclusionThe RRP is a unique, well-structured program, encompassing residents from various clinical departments, which enhances residents’ research capabilities.