1. Medical Education Research A new Area
Albert Scherpbier
Maastricht University

2. Scientific forums are available
National medical education meetings
AMEE conference
Ottawa conference
Internat Conference on Residency Education (ICRE)
AAMC/RIME conference
Jakmed conferences
Network TUFH conferences
………..

5. Overview of presentation
Research in medical education?
Why?
What?
How?
Who?
Where?
Conclusions
Why do we need
education research?

6. Why education research?
To scientifically underpin our education practice

7. Why education research?
To scientifically underpin our education practice
As an engine for educational development

8. The developmental cycle
Educational
development
Educational
research
Van der Vleuten, C. P. M. et al. (2004). Education research at the faculty of medicine, university of maastricht: Fostering the interrelationship between professional and education practice. Academic Medicine, 79(10),

9. Why education research?
To scientifically underpin our education practice
As an engine for educational development
For staff development

10. Pyramid of Expertise in Med Education
Researching
education
Teaching about
Management &
implementation of education
Coordinating education
Developing education
Teaching

11. Overview of presentation
Research in medical education?
Why?
What?
How?
Who?
Where?
Conclusions
What are we researching?

12. Health education continuum
Undergraduate
training
Postgraduate
training
Continuous
Professional Development
Available knowledge

13. Overview of presentation
Research in medical education?
Why?
What?
How?
Who?
Where?
Conclusions
How to research?

14. Types of research
Descriptive research
This is what we do in education

16. Types of research Descriptive research Justification research
This is what we do in education
Justification research
Is what we do in education better?

18. Types of research Descriptive research Justification research
This is what we do in education
Justification research
Is what we do in education better?
Clarification research
How can we explain why things work or not?

20. Differences with biomedical research
Controlled experimentation is hardly possible in education research
Big comparisons are not very useful
Well designed (smaller) studies are more important than the experimental nature
Connection to theory and previous research is essential
Quantitative AND qualitative methods

21. Qualitative research Data gathering methods: Data-analysis Methodology
Interview
Focus group
Participatory observation
Diaries
Stimulated recall
Case studies……..
Data-analysis
Description
Analytic induction
Grounded theory
Methodology
Stringent criteria for rigour in research (e.g. Guba & Lincoln)

22. Quantitative/Qualitative
Strengths quantitative research
Studies can be designed and implemented predictably
Statistical techniques available
Etc.
Strenghts qualitave research
Provides more explanation
Sensitive to context
Mixed method research (Johnson, R. B., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed method research: A paradigm whose time has come. Educational Researcher, 33(7), )

23. Overview of presentation
Research in medical education?
Why?
What?
How?
Who?
Where?
Conclusions
Who should do the research?

24. Who should do the research?
By members of the professional community (teachers, clinicians in the field…..); those in charge of education and not (only) by educationalists!
Are they able do that?
No!

25. Who should do the research?
By members of the professional community (teachers, clinicians in the field…..);
Collaborate, team up with more experienced researchers
Expertise needs to developed
Courses/Master/PhD programmes
Funding of research is an issue

26. Overview of presentation
Research in medical education?
Why?
What?
How?
Who?
Where?
Conclusions
Where to disseminate?

27. Overview of presentation
Research in medical education?
Why?
What?
How?
Who?
Where?
Conclusions

28. Conclusions
Why?
Not using educational theory and evidence is like treating patients without clinical evidence
Educational development can and should go hand in hand with education research.

29. Conclusions
What?
Lots of educational theory and technology is available, particularly in relation to undergraduate programmes
We need more (fundamental) research in work-based learning.

30. Conclusions
How?
We need less descriptive and more clarification research
Either in small well-designed experiments
Or in design-based research
A mixture of quantitative and qualitative methods.

31. Conclusions
Who?
The strong involvement of the medical professionals in education research defines its success and its impact on education practice
We need more training in education research

32. Conclusions Where? Lots of platforms for research are available
Lots of opportunity therefore; come and join the community!
Education research is still in its infancy