Element of the Month: 7.3 (scientific method/clinical/translational research)

Speaker: Ross McKinney, Jr., MD, Chief Scientific Officer, AAMC

Presentation Slides: June 21, 2018 Connecting with the Secretariat Webinar

Submitted Questions on Element 7.3

1. The LCME questions on scientific methods and clinical/translational research seem to focus on methodologies for a narrow set of scientific disciplines. As we work to educate our students in a broader set of scientific disciplines that use different methodologies (systems science, social and behavioral science, educational science) how can we respond to questions that relate to labs, etc.?
2. In the latest wording of the Scientific Method part of Standard 7.3, does removal of the parenthetical clause explicitly requiring practical data manipulation by students imply that such a requirement has been relaxed or abolished–could that part of the standard be met with didactics alone, for instance?
3. If there is a remaining requirement for students to manipulate data, does the recent increase in importance of database research (genomics and population data, etc.) allow practical work in that area to satisfy such a requirement on the same basis as manipulating actual or simulated lab data?