MEDFL5010E – Introductory course to the medical PhD programme, INTRO I

Course content

This is the first of two compulsory courses for all students at the Medical Student Research Programme at the Faculty of Medicine.

The aim of the course is to provde an introduction to theory of science and research ethics, and basic knowledge about the breadth of research methods that are used in medical and health research. Since the course brings together PhD candidates with many different backgrounds and research projects, it also offers a rare opportunity to get to know colleagues from the entire range of research environments at the Faculty of Medicine. The course exam affords course participants experience with peer reviewing. 

The course’s starting point is that medical research has become decidedly interdisciplinary. Cross-disciplinary cooperation and integration of multiple research fields have allowed the development of new knowledge and enabled new applications. This development is often called convergence. In this course, we will exemplify convergence by showing how a multifaceted problem can be addressed from different angles. We have chosen morbid obesity as our case; this thematic area will be employed in order to give participants concrete examples of general principals and approaches. It should, however be noted that the course is not a formalized introduction to obesity research - the case merely exemplifies modern research trends.

Multiple, integrated methods and tools can be applied to elucidate this thematic area including randomized controlled trials, R&D initiatives in primary health care, municipal initiatives, programs for increased physical activity and cooperation with NGOs. In the social context, prevention requires increased awareness in schools and in the public, as well as enhanced knowledge of nutrition, public health initiatives, product innovation, dissemination of healthcare products and political decision making.

This course provides an introduction to a variety of scientific perspectives and skills that are required to address such a complex issue. The course includes research within ethics and philosophy of science, epidemiology and statistics. In addition, genetic studies, basic research studies, cell physiology and pathophysiology, and studies of laboratory animals are introduced. The students will work in groups to elucidate the issue from their own point of view.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

After having completed this course, actively participated in lectures and group work, and studied the course literature, you are expected to be able to

• describe the knowledge, skills, and competencies one is expected to acquire during doctoral education
• summarize the contents of laws and regulations that govern research
• provide an overview of and summarize key topics in research ethics and the ethics of science
• provide an overview of and summarize key topics in the philosophy of science
• explain the concept of convergence and discuss the role of convergence in research that is of relevance to human health
• provide an overview over the range of research approaches used in medicine and other fields of relevance to human health
• explain central concepts in statistics, epidemiology, qualitative research methods, clinical studies, and basic medical research

Skills:

After having completed this course, actively participated in lectures and group work, and studied the course literature, you are expected to be able to

• discuss what it means to be an academic
• discuss your own research and that of others in light of central paradigms in theory of science
• discuss your own research and that of others in light of applicable laws and regulations
• identify and discuss ethical challenges in medical and health-related research
• pose well-founded critical questions to research and research publications
• justify the choice of research methods
• provide, receive, and make use of peer review

General competence:

After having completed this course, the goal is that you to will have strengthened competence to

• carry out your doctoral work with a high degree of ethical reflection and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations
• reflect on your own research in the context of other relevant research
• identify studies that may communicate with your own research although they are carried out with other methods and as part of other scientific traditions

Admission to the course

This course is restricted to students at the Medical Student Research Programme at the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Dentistry, UiO.

Students sign up for classes and exam to this course in StudentWeb.

Students will upon registration receive an immediate reply in StudentWeb as to whether a seat at this course is granted or not.

Recommended previous knowledge

Good skills in searching and citing scientific literature are a prerequisite for passing Intro I. Course participants with little previous knowledge have the option of attending a separate course with the university library prior to Intro I

Overlapping courses

• 5 credits overlap with MEDFL5010 – Introduksjonskurs for det medisinske ph.d.-programmet, INTRO I.
• 5 credits overlap with MF9010 – Introduksjonskurs for det medisinske ph.d.-programmet, INTRO I.
• 5 credits overlap with MF9010E – Introductory course to the medical Ph.D. programme, INTRO I.

Teaching

Teaching is organized as a six day course that starts on a Friday.

Participation the first day is mandatory. Supervisors will also be present during certain portions of the first day of the course. See information on the semester page.

Attendance requirements after day one: Course participants have to be present in at least 80% of the course sessions to be allowed to take the exam. Attendance will be registered.

Note: Teaching is only given digitally in Zoom every autumn semester, and with psychical attendance every spring semester.

Examination

To pass Intro I:

1. Attendance is compulsory the first day of the course

2. The home exam must be evaluated as passed. The exam has three components:

a) Course participants first write their own exam answer (time frame 2 weeks)

b) Each course participants thereafter carries out peer review of an exam paper submitted by one of the other course participants (time frame 1 week)

c) Each course participant then receives a peer review report from another course participant and revises their original exam answers on the basis of the comments provided (time frame 1 week)

d) When all three steps have been completed, candidates submit their original exam, the peer review report received, and their revised exam answers in Inspera.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.