Learning Practical Research Skills Using An Academic Paper Framework – An Innovative, Integrated Approach

Authors

Jo Lander, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
Sean Seeho, Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital St Leonards, NSW, Australia, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney School of Medicine, NSW, Australia, Kolling Institute, NSW, Australia
Kirsty Foster, Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital St Leonards, NSW, Australia, Kolling Institute, NSW, Australia, Office for Global Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia

Abstract

Background: There is a pressing need for effective education to help develop basic research and publication skills among clinicians in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). Learning from experience is important for achieving understanding of concepts and acquisition of skills rather than simply recall of facts. Methods: An innovative research and academic writing skills course was run for 21 participants from two universities in the Philippines. The experientially-based workshop encouraged development of skills and understanding through active involvement. Interaction with tutors and other participants was integral to the process. The novel workshop design linked various phases of the research process to relevant sections of an academic paper, thus integrating activities usually regarded as separate. This paper outlines the structure of the workshop and reports its evaluation through pre- and post-workshop surveys and post-workshop focus groups. Results: Participants appreciated the integrated format of the workshop and felt more confident in their ability to plan, conduct and write up research. Conclusion: Explicitly linking elements of an academic journal article to the components of developing a research project was successful in promoting learning and understanding of the research process and increased confidence in academic writing in this context and is likely transferable to similar contexts. © 2018 King Saud bin AbdulAziz University for Health Sciences

Recommended Citation

Lander, Jo; Seeho, Sean; and Foster, Kirsty (2019) "Learning Practical Research Skills Using An Academic Paper Framework – An Innovative, Integrated Approach," Health Professions Education: Vol. 5: Iss. 2, Article 9.
DOI: 10.1016/j.hpe.2018.06.002
Available at: https://hpe.researchcommons.org/journal/vol5/iss2/9