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The QMRC Method: A Systematic Approach for Undergraduate Students to Understand, Analyze, and Communicate Data Figures from Primary Research Articles
Author(s) -
Hinkle Karen
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.576.37
Subject(s) - presentation (obstetrics) , reading (process) , class (philosophy) , data presentation , mathematics education , computer science , focus (optics) , graduate students , scientific literature , psychology , qualitative property , medical education , pedagogy , medicine , paleontology , artificial intelligence , biology , physics , documentation , optics , machine learning , political science , law , radiology , programming language
As faculty members strive to prepare undergraduate students for the rigors of graduate school or careers in the sciences, perhaps the most important tools to familiarize students with are primary research articles. Since the complexities and often times intricate focus of these publications is intimidating for many undergraduates, it is important to not only use primary articles as teaching tools often in our classrooms but also to develop consistent, organized approaches with clear guidelines for students to adhere to when analyzing and communicating information from the articles. The goal of this presentation is to introduce an approach named the “QMRC” method that can be utilized for students to analyze data figures in primary articles. This “Question/Method/Result/Conclusion” approach is simple yet consistent and allows for students in any class, whether presenting data orally or in writing, to approach figures logically and with focus and clear objectives. Qualitative assessments comparing student comfort level reading journal articles at the beginning of courses versus the end have revealed a heightened level of comfort and ability reading primary scientific literature. Using a primary journal article utilized in an upper division Physiology course, the guidelines utilized in the classroom not only for data analysis but for journal article summary assignments that cover all aspects of scientific literature will be shared.