84244 - Scientific Research Methodology

Learning outcomes

Understand the Scientific Method as the basis for scientific inquiry, with reference to biomedical research. Summarize the goals, structure, creation process, and types of scientific literature in the biomedical sciences. Utilize bibliographic and biomedical resourses to locate and critically review scientific literature related to a specific question.

Course contents

Lecture 1 and 2

Basic principles of scientific methodology. The fundamentals of evidence-based medicine. Explanatory and pragmatic randomized clinical trials.

Lecture 3

Levels of evidence in scientific research and the Cochrane collaboration. How to keep up-to-date and follow the most valid and appropriate evidence: biomedical databases and guidelines.

Lecture 4

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses: a basic instruction manual. A practical example of literature search in PubMed databases: how to build evidence-based search strings and filters for the identification of all relevant studies to answer clinical questions.

Teaching methods

Interactive lectures and practical examples of bibliographical  research.

Assessment methods

  

Written test and oral examination (for examination dates, see almaesami.unibo.it)

The test consists of 4-choice questions. Only one answer is correct. There are no penalties for wrong or blank answers.
The test must be completed in 45 minutes.

Module                                              CFU        Questions

History of Medicine                                 1            4

Ethics and Behavioural Sciences               2            8

Medical Statistics and Epidemiology           2             8

Scientific Research Methodology               1             4

Determinant of Health and Disease            2             8

 

Number of right answers    Marks

31/32                              30L

30                                   30

29                                   29

28                                   28

27                                   27

26                                   26

25                                   25

24                                   24

23                                   23

22                                   22

21                                   21

20                                   20

19                                   19

18                                   18

<18                                Fail

≥18 and 0 right answers in any module: Fail

 

Exam marks are published within 3 days on AlmaEsami.
The student can refuse the marks within 5 days from publication by emailing Prof. Rucci (paola.rucci2@unibo.it). All refusals must be sent from the institutional email address @studio.unibo.it
After 6 days from publication the acceptance will be taken for granted and the exam will be recorded.

Office hours

See the website of Franco Trevisani