Quality Of Scientific Research Research Articles

PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES: EU LEGAL REGULATION EXPERIENCE

Legal regulation of the use of personal data is essential in ensuring the quality of scientific research. Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union No. 2016/679 of April 27, 2016 «On the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data», repealing Directive 95/46/EC, aims to unify the standards governing the protection of human rights to privacy, certain conditions beyond. This novel, introduced by the Regulation in the EU legal framework, complements and updates the acquis communautaire achieved within the framework of Directive 95/46/EC on personal data protection. The Regulation establishes both general rules applicable to any type of personal data processing and special rules applicable to the analysis of certain categories of personal data, such as information obtained during clinical trials. This paper provides an overview of new standards (in force since May 2018) that regulate aspects of personal data processing in the context of research activities (personal health data, genetic, biometric information, etc.)

Scientific Utopia III: Crowdsourcing Science

Most scientific research is conducted by small teams of investigators who together formulate hypotheses, collect data, conduct analyses, and report novel findings. These teams operate independently as vertically integrated silos. Here we argue that scientific research that is horizontally distributed can provide substantial complementary value, aiming to maximize available resources, promote inclusiveness and transparency, and increase rigor and reliability. This alternative approach enables researchers to tackle ambitious projects that would not be possible under the standard model. Crowdsourced scientific initiatives vary in the degree of communication between project members from largely independent work curated by a coordination team to crowd collaboration on shared activities. The potential benefits and challenges of large-scale collaboration span the entire research process: ideation, study design, data collection, data analysis, reporting, and peer review. Complementing traditional small science with crowdsourced approaches can accelerate the progress of science and improve the quality of scientific research.

Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of the Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation (JASSS) between 2000 and 2018

All scientific journals need to be regularly monitored and evaluated from a bibliometric perspective. The Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation (JASSS) founded in 1998 is dedicated to the topics related to artificial societies and social simulation. It is a pioneering journal with the global audience and international authors. Bibliometric analysis of this journal can be helpful in evaluating its scientific performance and research quality. In this study, the number of JASSS papers, highly-cited papers, the most prolific authors, the most active research institutions and countries were identified and their keyword and term co-occurrences and journal and author co-citation maps were visualized in the period 2000-2018 by using various bibliometric indicators in VOSviewer bibliometric software package. The results showed that with a high contribution to the field and a scientific collaboration with other related journals, JASSS had found its way in the field of social simulation and achieved an academic level. This study provides a reference for future studies by exploring the knowledge structures and publishing trends of JASSS. The bibliometrics analysis and visualization of JASSS can be a useful for either library and information science (LIS) scholars or the people interested in bibliometric studies; therefore, they can use it as a pattern to review other journals. © 2019, Heidar Mokhtari, Azadeh Roumiyani, and Mohammad Karim Saberi.

Extrapolation of Canadian Universities’ Internationalization Strategies into Ukrainian Higher Agrarian Education

The article reveals the experience of Canadian universities in the sphere of internationalization and its implementation into the academic process of the Ukrainian higher agrarian education. The authors of the article examined works of Canadian researchers concerning internationalization in higher education, the process of adaptation of international students to the foreign environment, in particular, those which describe the outcomes of students, belonging to non-European intellectual traditions. It was found out that the Canadian strategies in internationalization had resulted in increasing quality of education and scientific research by establishing links with international partners due to the active academic mobility, multicultural awareness and integration into the world scientific society. Analysing and resuming the materials, the questionnaires were compeled to identify the initial level of adaptation of international students to the Ukrainian agrarian university, focused on housing information, challenges, learning the English and Ukrainian languages, university authority support for international students, etc. Assuming findings of the study, pedagogical conditions, appropriate to successful adaptation of international students to the academic and cultural environment of the university were distinguished. The intercultural trainings programme was targeted to facilitate the process of international students’ adaptation to the new multicultural academic environment, as well as provide the necessary skills for intercultural communication.

Practice and thinking of electronic data capture application in clinical research management

Electronic capture(EDC) plays an important role in improving the quality of clinical research.The authors introduced the main functions of EDC and the use flow, then from its core function, analyzed the role of EDC in improving the quality of clinical research and scientific research management.Then they proposed the thinking of finding and solving problems from EDC big data . Their efforts aim at enabling research administrators in extending clinical research management scope and management quality. Key words: Information management; Electronic capture; Clinical trials; Scientific research management

Burnout and Mental Health Problems in Biomedical Doctoral Students.

Although burnout and mental health problems may adversely impact quality of scientific research, academic productivity, and attrition in biomedical doctoral training programs, very little research has been done on this topic. Recent studies have used brief survey methods to begin to explore burnout and mental health problems in biomedical doctoral students. In this pilot study, biomedical doctoral students (N = 69; 12% of enrolled biomedical doctoral students at a large research institution’s school of medicine in the United States) were administered standardized psychiatric interviews and self-report questionnaires focused on dimensions of burnout, mental health symptoms, and academic outcomes. We discovered high levels of burnout, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, we identified that burnout was significantly associated with thoughts related to dropping out, subjective appraisal of employment opportunities, functional impairment due to a mental health problem, and having at least one current psychiatric disorder. These findings extend prior research indicating the presence of significant emotional health challenges doctoral students in biomedical graduate programs face involving high burnout and difficulties with the training environment. We outline several recommendations and next steps to programmatically understand and address these emerging emotional wellness concerns in biomedical doctoral students.

KEDTA sample contamination: A reappraisal

Bone research is a dynamic area of scientific investigation that usually encompasses multidisciplines. Virtually all basic cellular research, clinical research and epidemiologic research rely on statistical concepts and methodology for inference. This paper discusses common issues and suggested solutions concerning the application of statistical thinking in bone research, particularly in clinical and epidemiological investigations. The issues are sample size estimation, biases and confounders, analysis of longitudinal data, categorization of continuous data, selection of significant variables, over-fitting, P-values, false positive finding, confidence interval, and Bayesian inference. It is hoped that by adopting the suggested measures the scientific quality of bone research can improve.

Publication rate of abstracts orally presented at the Turkish Society of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation National Congresses.

The most widely accepted parameter in evaluating the quality of research presented at scientific congresses is the success of publishing that research in a peer-reviewed journal. There are limited data in the literature about the publishing rates of abstracts orally presented at national congresses of the Turkish Society of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation (TARD) in scientific journals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the literary contribution of oral presentations at the TARD Congresses (TARK) and to present proposals for future congresses with detailed evaluation of the literature. Overall, 319 orally presented abstracts at the TARK between October 2011 and October 2014 have been reviewed in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Abstracts were evaluated with respect to the institution of the principal author, type of research, publication status in scientific journal, type of publication, year of publication, rate of citation, order of authors and changes in title. The distributions of investigated papers were as follows: 73.1% clinical research, 21.9% experimental research, 2.5% case presentations and 2.5% survey studies. Moreover, 57.7% of the abstracts had authors from universities, 16% from research-training hospitals and 26.3% from mixed institutions. Further, 42.3% of the abstracts were published as articles in a scientific journal, 65.9% of the manuscripts were published in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) indexed, 8.1% in non-SCIE indexed international journals and 25.9% in national journals. There was no statistically significant difference between institution from which publications were sent and the index status of the journal (p=0.068). The average publication time of the abstracts was 15.01±12.26 months. The publication rate of abstracts orally presented at the TARK between October 2011 and October 2014 is 42.3%, which is in accordance with other international studies. This indicates that the reports in the congresses were assessed by the jury according to international selection criteria and meticulously scored. The majority of the abstracts were published in journals that are listed in SCIE, indicating a quantitative data regarding the scientific quality of research in anaesthesiology.

ДЕЯКІ ШЛЯХИ ТА ЗАХОДИ УДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ НАУКОВИХ ДОСЛІДЖЕНЬ В ІНТЕРЕСАХ ВИЩИХ ВІЙСЬКОВИХ НАВЧАЛЬНИХ ЗАКЛАДІВ

Introduction. For today in normatively-legal acts, scientifically-methodical developments, scientific sources absent description of mechanisms of organization of scientific researches in interests of higher military educational establishments (HMEE), that does not allow to provide quality of researches and efficiency of realization of their results in HMEE.Purpose: to identify and systematize the ways and measures for improving research in the interests of universities of higher soldiery educational establishments.Methods: qualitative description, critical analysis of existing approaches to the organization of scientific research, abstracting, idealization and formalization during the definition of ways and measures to improve the organization of scientific research in the interests of HMEE. Results. For the increase of efficiency of scientific researches in interests of HMEE, assistance to providing of quality of functioning of all subjects of scientific activity, that is brought over next ways and events offer to their realization:1) realization and providing of educational process differentiation of directions (subjects) of the scientific providing (scientific researches) of educational activity of HMEE. It offers to organize scientific researches from the problems of organization, providing and researches the process of educational; 2) improvement of mechanisms (determination of features) of organization of scientific researches which are conducted on the order of HMEE. For upgrading scientific researches in interests of educational activity of HMEE it is expedient to conduct measures to on: individualizations (personalisations) of researches scientifically pedagogical workers; introductions of criteria, which determine quality of scientific research; the use of possibilities of scientific research is in command post exercises;3) upgrading of introduction of results of scientific researches is in educational activity of HMEE. It is for this purpose offered: to bring over the research workers of scientific subsections to realization of employments after a subject, that probed by them; to provide introduction of mechanisms of motivation as a result of scientific and scientific and technical activity; to work out and to introduce the system of realization of results of scientific researches Originality. The mechanisms of organization of scientific researches are improved in interests of HSEE, introduction of that will allow to provide quality of researches and efficiency of realization of their results in HSEE.Conclusion. The approaches expounded in the article it is expedient to examine as tendencies and prospects of development of the system of organization of scientific researches in interests of HSEE.

Quality Control for Scientific Research: Addressing Reproducibility, Responsiveness, and Relevance

ABSTRACT Efforts to address a reproducibility crisis have generated several valid proposals for improving the quality of scientific research. We argue there is also need to address the separate but related issues of relevance and responsiveness. To address relevance, researchers must produce what decision makers actually need to inform investments and public policy—that is, the probability that a claim is true or the probability distribution of an effect size given the data. The term responsiveness refers to the irregularity and delay in which issues about the quality of research are brought to light. Instead of relying on the good fortune that some motivated researchers will periodically conduct efforts to reveal potential shortcomings of published research, we could establish a continuous quality-control process for scientific research itself. Quality metrics could be designed through the application of this statistical process control for the research enterprise. We argue that one quality control metric—the probability that a research hypothesis is true—is required to address at least relevance and may also be part of the solution for improving responsiveness and reproducibility. This article proposes a “straw man” solution which could be the basis of implementing these improvements. As part of this solution, we propose one way to “bootstrap” priors. The processes required for improving reproducibility and relevance can also be part of a comprehensive statistical quality control for science itself by making continuously monitored metrics about the scientific performance of a field of research.

Biases in studies of spatial patterns in insect herbivory

AbstractThe properties of the human mind are responsible for a number of biases that affect the quality of scientific research. However, scientists working in the fields of ecology and environmental science rarely take these biases into account. We conducted a meta‐analysis of data extracted from 125 publications comparing woody plant damage by defoliating insects in different environments in order to understand the extent to which our knowledge on spatial patterns in herbivory is affected by various biases. We asked which research methods are most prone to biases and whether these biases lead to overestimation of the effects under study. The effect sizes (ESs) decreased with increases in the numbers of plant species involved in the study, with 61% lower ESs for herbivory estimated on all plants growing in study plots compared to herbivory on selected species. ESs also depended on the leaf sampling procedure: when all leaves from a tree or branch were sampled for measurements of herbivory or when random or systematic selection protocols were applied, ESs were 74% smaller than in cases of more subjective haphazard selection. In addition, ESs were 97% and 135% greater when the person conducting sampling and measuring was aware of the research hypothesis or sample origin, when compared with situations when the observer was blinded to these factors. The impacts of cognitive biases on the study outcomes significantly decreased with the increase in publication year; however, this pattern emerged mostly due to high‐ranked journals and was non‐significant for other journals. Using the studies of spatial patterns in herbivory as an example, we showed that our ecological and environmental knowledge is considerably biased due to an unconscious tendency of researchers to find support for their hypotheses and expectations, which generally leads to overestimation of the effects under study. Cognitive biases can be avoided by using different methods, such as applying randomization procedures in sampling and blinding of research hypotheses and sample origins. These measures should be seen as obligatory; otherwise, accumulation of the biased results in primary studies may ultimately lead to false general conclusions in subsequent research synthesis.

Taxonomic Model of Mathematical Competences of Future Researcher Teachers

Обсуждается, что одним из видов профессиональной деятельности выпускника бакалавриата по направлению подготовки 44.03.04 «Профессиональное обучение (по отраслям)» является научно-исследовательская деятельность, которая регламентирована Федеральным государственным образовательным стандартом (ФГОС). В рамках данной деятельности выпускник должен быть готов участвовать в различных исследованиях по проблемам подготовки рабочих, служащих и специалистов среднего звена. Для повышения качества научно-педагогических исследований в них интенсивно используются методы теории вероятностей и математической статистики. Результаты обучения студентов бакалавриата во ФГОС представлены в терминах компетентностного подхода, и поэтому их невозможно измерить. Отсутствие измерителей результатов подготовки студентов по дисциплине «Математические методы в педагогических исследованиях» не позволяет установить соответствие подготовки будущего педагога-исследователя заданным требования ФГОС. Представлена таксономическая модель математических компетенций студентов бакалавриата будущих педагогов-исследователей, перечень которых разработан методом групповых экспертных оценок. Модель предусматривает формирование трех групп математических компетенций: базовых, методологических, креативных. Каждая группа математических компетенций представлена деятельностными и когнитивными составляющими. Иерархическая структура математических компетенций соответствует модели их формирования. Предложенный перечень математических компетенций является обобщенным. Для реализации целей диагностики степени сформированности компетенции необходимо конкретизировать их в контексте определенной темы данной дисциплины. Рассмотренная модель математических компетенций позволяет конкретизировать цели обучения, формулировать рекомендации для оптимального формирования системы компетенций, оптимизировать процесс обучения студентов.

Abstract P6-14-08: Effects of online resource to support laypersons' understanding of media reports on breast cancer research

Abstract Rationale: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women ages 20 to 39. Approximately 7% of women with breast cancer are diagnosed before age 40. Women age 45 or younger with breast cancer or who are at high risk for breast cancer have distinct health risks and different needs from their older counterparts. Breast cancer risk, etiology, treatment, outcomes, and related survivorship and quality of life concerns often vary between younger and older women. Diagnosis at a young age is associated with higher risk of recurrence, second malignancy, mortality, morbidity, and quality of life issues. Young women with or at high risk for breast cancer need clearly presented information based on sound evidence to help them make informed decisions about their specific health needs. To help women better understand media coverage about new research, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE) developed XRAYS (eXamining Relevance of Articles to Young Survivors). XRAYS is an online resource that provides brief articles summarizing recent research relevant to young women with or at risk for breast cancer. XRAYS articles rate the quality and relevance of scientific research and the quality of media reporting on that research. Objectives: The objectives of the current project were to: 1) conduct an initial test of XRAYS's effectiveness in improving users' knowledge about information covered in media reports 2) assess the degree to which XRAYS facilitates awareness of recent research findings 3) Obtain feedback regarding XRAYS' utility and appeal 4) Use results to inform XRAYS development Methods and Results: An independent evaluator randomly assigned 21 participants to a treatment (read media article plus XRAYS review) or control (read media article only) condition. Each respondent completed multiple choice pre- and post-intervention tests about information contained in one of three media reports (Two respondents took their written surveys with them. Statistical analyses were conducted on data from the remaining respondents). Results demonstrate that both groups improved between pre- and post-test. The treatment group increased knowledge significantly more than the control group. Table 1.Results of within group comparisonsGroupNPre-test Mean, Percentage Correct Responses (s.d.)Post-test Mean, Percentage Correct Responses (s.d.)t-score (d.f.)PComparison Group857.5 (12.82)72.5 (23.75)-2.05 (7)n.s.XRAYS1152.73 (20.54)87.27 (16.18)-7.29 (10)<.001 Table 2.Results of between group comparisonGroupNMean Change Score (s.d.)t-score (d.f.)PComparison Group815.00 (20.70)-2.34 (18)<.05XRAYS1134.55 (15.72) Participants also contributed to one of three focus groups. Focus group results indicate that XRAYS is a valuable resource for identifying relevant recent research findings and for explaining limitations in research methods, relevance, and reporting quality. Results also indicate that it is critical for XRAYS to be brief, use non-technical language, and address the most recent trends in media coverage. FORCE is using focus group feedback to guide decisions about XRAYS content, format, and dissemination. FORCE will collect additional data to confirm test findings and to assess effects of XRAYS on understanding of evidence quality. Citation Format: Pugh Yi RH, Rezende L, Dearfield CT, Welcsh PL, Friedman SJ. Effects of online resource to support laypersons' understanding of media reports on breast cancer research [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-14-08.

Research and practice of cooperative learning method in photoelectric technology training of college students

<p>Based on the constructivist learning theory, this paper adopts cooperative learning teaching method and constructs the COME science and technology education model with classroom, ideas, methods and elements as the unit according to the model of Chinese college students' physics academic competition. After more than ten years of exploration and practice by the micro-nano optical science and technology innovation team, the results show that the teaching method of combining teacher guidance and cooperative learning in the teaching of university photoelectric science and technology training not only strengthens the communication and cooperation between students, exercises students' ability to analyze and solve problems, cultivates students' cooperative consciousness, innovative spirit and scientific research quality, but also improves students' academic performance in a large area, which can definitely enhance students' knowledge, ability and quality comprehensively and harmoniously.</p>

Open peer review as a tool for improving the quality of socio-economic research

The article is devoted to the analysis of modern mechanisms of quality assurance of scientific publications, stimulation of scientific discussion and academic integrity. "Blind review", which is mostly used by national scientific periodicals, does not always ensure the publication of original and relevant scientific research results. Moreover, such a method of reviewing does not form sufficient prerequisites for the good faith of the reviewer, a careful attitude towards the study of the content of the scientific publication that is being reviewed. Scientific discussion, which can potentially improve both the quality of scientific research and the dissemination of knowledge, is practically impossible under the "blind review". The authors have analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of "open review" mechanisms, which are gradually being introduced in the European scientific space. It has been established that such review prevents unfair criticism, contributes to the objective assessment of scientific publication, provides the opportunity for scientific discussion among specialists of a certain sphere and timely detection of plagiarism and "rewriting". At the same time, the "open review" bears number of shortcomings: the potential reluctance of the reviewer on its behalf to submit a negative review or even work on writing it, which requires some incentives from editorial boards and organizational committees of scientific conferences. The authors has justified the need to diversify the mechanisms for reviewing scientific publications in the Ukrainian scientific and educational environment as a way to improve the quality of socio-economic research in Ukraine.

EVALUATION METHODS FOR R&D IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

The paper is a case study of the experience of developing and using systems for evaluating the quality and effectiveness of scientific research within British, Dutch and Finnish universities and other fundamental scientific centers. The article aims at showing key organizational and methodical approaches for assessing the effectiveness of research in Western European countries against the background of the ensuing discussion about the role of quantitative and peer review methods in analyzing research results. Descriptive, historical and comparative methods are used. The assessments of quality and the state of research in the selected group of countries are found to be based mainly on the complexity and ambiguity of scientific pursuit and, consequently, on understanding that the evaluation of research effectiveness should be multidimensional and complex, that it should rest on expert quality assessment and quantitative (scientometric and bibliometric) indicators, the latter not to be dominant, but to serve as an advantage to expert judgment. The article gives new detailed and more complete (than the analogical works) analysis of the systems and criteria for assessing the quality of research together with the factors underlying their evolution in the three European countries with highly developed national scientific systems. There is shown the formation of modern evaluation systems in accordance with the needs for the development of scientific potential and with the need to strengthen its competitiveness on the international arena. This made it possible to draw valid conclusions about the essential general features of the assessment systems and about their adaptation to national characteristics, and to formulate recommendations on using the experience of Western European countries to improve the practice of evaluating research activities in Russian universities and research institutes. The results of the work may as well be of interest to researchers, university professors, postgraduates, students, and also to all those interested in topical issues of developing the science of science.

Deep Integration between Innovative & Entrepreneurship Education and Specialized Engineering Education

The integration between entrepreneurship education and specialized engineering education is a key issue in higher education. This article summarized the research and practice of innovative and entrepreneurial engineering application-oriented talents training pattern for vehicle engineering in Wenzhou University. Deep integration between innovative & entrepreneurship education and specialized engineering education are composed of the theoretical teaching system, the practice teaching system, the combination of production and research, the entrepreneurship education culture system, and the incubation platform. Course content is optimized through the integration of teaching, scientific research, and social quality resources. Through project-based case teaching and the guaranteed mechanism of the integration of production and education, the content of innovative and entrepreneurship education is permeated to the specialized engineering curriculum. Graduates in the last three years indicate that the reform on specialized engineering education was effective and worth to practice.

On the issue of measures stimulating the improvement of the quality of scientific research in Russia

On the issue of measures stimulating the improvement of the quality of scientific research in Russia

Quality Management in Higher Education; Challenges of Private Universities in Albania

Higher education is considered as one of the main socio-economic development factors of the society. Quality assurance in higher education shall be one of the main priorities of the government and civil society. Expectations for a better performance in the quality of teaching, scientific research and other similar activities, obliges the university managers and administrators to review their strategy. For this reason, the demand for quality in higher education is increasing. After assessing the current state of the private educational institutions in Albania in terms of quality and of identifying the existing issues, there will be provided some recommendations and suggestions for improvement in relation to the future challenges. For this reason, in the theoretical framework of references from literature assessment, a specific total quality management framework (TQM) will be developed.

Gut microbiata: underestimated or exaggerated?

Human gastrointestinal tract contains a large diversity of commensal microorganisms, which is many times more than the human living cells. In the last decade, we had enormous number of research on the association with diseases and gut microbiota composition. There is a clear increase in the number of pathological conditions associated with dysbiosis in time. Also, the range of diseases are increased and distributed to many disciplines, non-gastrointestinal diseases are also increasingly reported. Gut microbiota has multiple functions and new applications for diagnosis and therapeutics of diseases. Probiotics are widely used in health and disease states. Probably further high quality scientific research will determine the exact place of microbiota and probiotics in human health in the future.