Developing research skills in medical students online using an active research study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Online Learning
• Research Skills Development

Background:

• Medical education emphasizes research skills and scholarship.
• The COVID-19 pandemic shifted all medical teaching online.
• An active research study was integrated into online small group teaching in 2020-2021.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate student perspectives on research skill development, teaching quality, and tutor performance in an online active research study.
• Assess the impact of the online active research course on summative assessment marks compared to previous and subsequent years.
• Identify student and tutor feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the online teaching approach.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative student feedback surveys were used to assess skill development, content, format, and tutor performance.
• Qualitative feedback was collected from students and tutors regarding course experiences and suggestions.
• Summative assessment marks from the online course (2020-2021) were compared with non-online courses (2017-2019 and 2021-2023) using ANOVA.

Main Results:

• Students reported positive development of research skills, including data analysis and scientific presentations.
• No significant difference in assessment marks was found across the five teaching years, indicating learning outcomes were met.
• Students valued online convenience but missed in-person interaction and lab training; tutors also noted a lack of face-to-face interaction.

Conclusions:

• Online teaching incorporating active research effectively engages students in developing research and scholarship skills.
• Integrating current research studies into undergraduate courses can enhance the learning experience and the research project.
• This approach offers a viable and motivating method for medical education, particularly in online settings.