Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Scientific Background and Integrity in Research
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish,
Teaching staff
Questions may be answered before or after each class or during the individual tutorials at an arranged time.
Professor responsible for the subjects: Rosalia Rodriguez (rrodriguez@uic.es)
Introduction
At the start of a research career, it is important to have information on the basic professional practices used to seek employment and funding in the field of biomedical research, as well as aspects related to research ethics and integrity.
Pre-course requirements
No prerequisites
Objectives
1. To identify the standards of good professional practice in the biomedical sciences.
2. To critically analyse real cases in which the principles of scientific integrity have not been upheld and to issue a well-founded reflection.
3. To be aware of the options for funding research, both at state and European level.
4. To gain knowledge of how to draft competitive projects and their administrative management.
5. To identify the job opportunities available for researchers with a master’s degree in the field of biomedical sciences.
6. To make gender inequalities in the field of biomedical research visible in order to work towards gender equality.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- C6 - Identify the employment possibilities of a scientific career, considering the principles of ethics and research integrity.
- C7 - Respect the fundamental rights of equality between men and women, and the promotion of human rights, democratic and peace culture values.
- C8 - Use language that avoids androcentrism and stereotypes in oral and written media.
Learning outcomes of the subject
- K1 - Understand the different research demands in which the different experimental methodologies can be put into practice.
- K2 - Understand the concept of scientific integrity in the field of biomedical research from a critical point of view.
- K3 - Have knowledge of the main financing options for research and innovation projects, nationally and internationally.
- K4 - Demonstrate a critical and advanced understanding of a wide diversity of theories, principles and concepts, on major human diseases.
- K5 - Develop the ability to critically evaluate research in the field of biomedical sciences, assessing methodologies and, if appropriate, proposing new approaches/hypotheses.
- K6 - Have advanced knowledge of work dynamics in a biomedical research laboratory.
- K7 - Have knowledge of mechanisms that allow classifying and summarising the information that emerges from the research activity in the biomedicine laboratory.
- K8 - Develop the ability to write and publicly defend a master’s final degree project related to the area of biomedical research.
- S1 - Analyse and critically manage the advanced research methodologies available in the field of biomedical sciences, discussing their use in various kinds of research.
- S2 - Manage the complexity involved in research following a position of scientific integrity, including, if appropriate, a reflection on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the different cases.
- S3 - Be able to analyse, interpret and critically evaluate information, theories and complex concepts in the different areas of biomedical research.
- S4 - Have the ability to solve problems associated with practice in a biomedical research laboratory with a high degree of autonomy.
- S5 - Be able to solve hypotheses or research problems by designing, planning and executing complex experiments.
- S6 - Be able to decide which experimental methodology is most appropriate for the objectives that arise in the different fields of biomedical research.
- S7 - Be able to disseminate the research results in the biomedicine area that contribute to the knowledge of specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- S8 - Be able to argue, the of scientific results one’s own research or those of other researchers in an oral presentation.
- S9 - Be aware of how to correctly use scientific verbal and non-verbal language in oral defences.
Syllabus
Part I: Scientific Path
Lesson 1. How to prepare a scientific CV
Lesson 2. How to prepare an interview
Lesson 3. How to prepare a cover letter
Lesson 4. Scientific career path
Lesson 5. Spanish and European funding opportunities
Lesson 6. Funding, fellowship and how to write an application
Lesson 7. Tips for young researchers
Lesson 8. Practical session on how to write a final master’s degree project and scientific articles
Part II: Research integrity
Session 1: Introduction to integrity in biomedical research
- Definition and basic principles of integrity in research.
- Importance of scientific integrity in the biomedical field.
- Historical cases of scientific misconduct and their consequences.
Session 2: Ethics in biomedical research
- Basic concepts of ethics and its relation to biomedical research.
- Ethical principles in experimentation with human subjects and animals.
- Informed consent and ethical considerations in data collection.
Session 3: Plagiarism, authorship and publication
- Identification and prevention of plagiarism in biomedical research.
- Authorship guidelines and author responsibilities.
- Publication process and selecting scientific journals.
Session 4: Data and results in research
- Proper data management and best practices in handling data.
- Result manipulation and falsification.
- Statistical analysis and transparent results presentation.
Session 5: Conflicts of interest
- Identification and management of conflicts of interest in biomedical research.
- Declaration of conflicts of interest in publications and presentations.
- Impact of conflicts of interest on scientific credibility.
Session 6: Responsibility and oversight
- Responsibilities of researchers and project leaders.
- Proper supervision and prevention of misconduct.
- Institutional responsibility in promoting scientific integrity.
Session 7: Replicability and generalisation of results
- Importance of replicability in biomedical research.
- Factors affecting the replicability of studies.
- Generalisation of results and its limitations.
Session 8: Research ethics committees
- Functions and roles of research ethics committees.
- Ethical review process of research projects.
- Specific considerations in biomedical research.
Session 9: Practical cases and analysis of real situations
- Analysis of practical cases of scientific misconduct.
- Group discussion on how to prevent and address ethical issues.
- Evaluation of integrity in real scientific articles.
Session 10: Good practices and conclusions
- Summary of the main topics covered in the course.
- Final recommendations and best practices to maintain integrity in biomedical research.
- The importance of ethics and integrity in advancing science.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The training activities that will be used are as follows:
Lectures: Face-to-face and occasionally online. They represent the theoretical basis of the content of the master’s degree. In the face-to-face lectures, all students will be in the classroom attending and participating in the presentation given by the lecturers.
Case Method: In face-to-face classes, students will develop skills for detecting needs, communicating and defining and solving problems. This is mostly associated with achieving the skills mentioned in the learning outcomes. It is a type of experience-based and reflective learning that helps generate knowledge and skills. In case method activities, all students are in the classroom working in small groups (3-5 students). The teacher guides and leads the activities and makes the more dynamic.
Practicums/Laboratory Work: Face-to-face, providing students the opportunity to interact with the work tools, through practical demonstrations of the theoretical knowledge they acquire. In the practicums, learning outcomes K, S and C are combined. The practicum laboratories are equipped to accommodate the entire student body (20), divided into groups of 2-3 students. In the practical activities, the faculty members will guide and help the students achieve the specific objectives of each session.
Virtual learning: Online teaching material; the follow-up and assessment is carried out in face-to-face format (in the lectures) or in virtual forums. This promotes student autonomy.
Autonomous work: Students will be encouraged to do personal work, such as the elaboration of assignments in the different subjects, contributing to the achievement of all types of proposed learning outcomes.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
1) First sitting:
- SCIENTIFIC PATH MODULE: 50%
- Written essays and tests, oral presentations. Average mark from the reports.
- RESEARCH INTEGRITY MODULE: 50%
- Written essay from each session. Average marks from the reports.
Students may receive additional points for active participation.
2) Second and subsequent sittings:
Students will be assessed by means of a practical and theoretical test that will account for 100% of the mark.
3) General information about the assessment system to bear in mind:
- To pass the subject, students must have an average mark of 5 or higher.
- To pass the whole course, each part (Scientific Path and Scientific Integrity) must be passed with mark of at least 5 out of 10.
- Attendance in face-to-face classes is compulsory in order to pass the course.