Study of the comprehension of the scientific method by members of a university health research laboratory
In Brazil, scientific research is carried out mainly at universities, where professors coordinate research projects with the active participation of undergraduate and graduate students. However, there is no formal program for the teaching/learning of the scientific method. The objective of the prese...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica
2012-02-01
|
Series: | Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2012000200001&lng=en&tlng=en |
id |
doaj-a1b1f8f5ce094b16943a679fc164aa8b |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-a1b1f8f5ce094b16943a679fc164aa8b2020-11-24T23:42:30ZengAssociação Brasileira de Divulgação CientíficaBrazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research1414-431X2012-02-014529396S0100-879X2012000200001Study of the comprehension of the scientific method by members of a university health research laboratoryA.C. Burlamaque-Neto0G.R. Santos1L.M. Lisbôa2J.R. Goldim3C.L.B. Machado4U. Matte5R. Giugliani6Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulIn Brazil, scientific research is carried out mainly at universities, where professors coordinate research projects with the active participation of undergraduate and graduate students. However, there is no formal program for the teaching/learning of the scientific method. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the comprehension of the scientific method by students of health sciences who participate in scientific projects in an academic research laboratory. An observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using Edgar Morin complexity as theoretical reference. In a semi-structured interview, students were asked to solve an abstract logical puzzle - TanGram. The collected data were analyzed using the hermeneutic-dialectic analysis method proposed by Minayo and discussed in terms of the theoretical reference of complexity. The students’ concept of the scientific method is limited to participation in projects, stressing the execution of practical procedures as opposed to scientific thinking. The solving of the TanGram puzzle revealed that the students had difficulties in understanding questions and activities focused on subjects and their processes. Objective answers, even when dealing with personal issues, were also reflected on the students’ opinions about the characteristics of a successful researcher. Students’ difficulties concerning these issues may affect their scientific performance and result in poorly designed experiments. This is a preliminary study that should be extended to other centers of scientific research.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2012000200001&lng=en&tlng=enScientific methodComplexityAcademic scientific research |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
A.C. Burlamaque-Neto G.R. Santos L.M. Lisbôa J.R. Goldim C.L.B. Machado U. Matte R. Giugliani |
spellingShingle |
A.C. Burlamaque-Neto G.R. Santos L.M. Lisbôa J.R. Goldim C.L.B. Machado U. Matte R. Giugliani Study of the comprehension of the scientific method by members of a university health research laboratory Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research Scientific method Complexity Academic scientific research |
author_facet |
A.C. Burlamaque-Neto G.R. Santos L.M. Lisbôa J.R. Goldim C.L.B. Machado U. Matte R. Giugliani |
author_sort |
A.C. Burlamaque-Neto |
title |
Study of the comprehension of the scientific method by members of a university health research laboratory |
title_short |
Study of the comprehension of the scientific method by members of a university health research laboratory |
title_full |
Study of the comprehension of the scientific method by members of a university health research laboratory |
title_fullStr |
Study of the comprehension of the scientific method by members of a university health research laboratory |
title_full_unstemmed |
Study of the comprehension of the scientific method by members of a university health research laboratory |
title_sort |
study of the comprehension of the scientific method by members of a university health research laboratory |
publisher |
Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica |
series |
Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research |
issn |
1414-431X |
publishDate |
2012-02-01 |
description |
In Brazil, scientific research is carried out mainly at universities, where professors coordinate research projects with the active participation of undergraduate and graduate students. However, there is no formal program for the teaching/learning of the scientific method. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the comprehension of the scientific method by students of health sciences who participate in scientific projects in an academic research laboratory. An observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using Edgar Morin complexity as theoretical reference. In a semi-structured interview, students were asked to solve an abstract logical puzzle - TanGram. The collected data were analyzed using the hermeneutic-dialectic analysis method proposed by Minayo and discussed in terms of the theoretical reference of complexity. The students’ concept of the scientific method is limited to participation in projects, stressing the execution of practical procedures as opposed to scientific thinking. The solving of the TanGram puzzle revealed that the students had difficulties in understanding questions and activities focused on subjects and their processes. Objective answers, even when dealing with personal issues, were also reflected on the students’ opinions about the characteristics of a successful researcher. Students’ difficulties concerning these issues may affect their scientific performance and result in poorly designed experiments. This is a preliminary study that should be extended to other centers of scientific research. |
topic |
Scientific method Complexity Academic scientific research |
url |
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2012000200001&lng=en&tlng=en |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT acburlamaqueneto studyofthecomprehensionofthescientificmethodbymembersofauniversityhealthresearchlaboratory AT grsantos studyofthecomprehensionofthescientificmethodbymembersofauniversityhealthresearchlaboratory AT lmlisboa studyofthecomprehensionofthescientificmethodbymembersofauniversityhealthresearchlaboratory AT jrgoldim studyofthecomprehensionofthescientificmethodbymembersofauniversityhealthresearchlaboratory AT clbmachado studyofthecomprehensionofthescientificmethodbymembersofauniversityhealthresearchlaboratory AT umatte studyofthecomprehensionofthescientificmethodbymembersofauniversityhealthresearchlaboratory AT rgiugliani studyofthecomprehensionofthescientificmethodbymembersofauniversityhealthresearchlaboratory |
_version_ |
1725504155721662464 |