(1481) TEACHING MASTER'S STUDENTS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION HOW TO APPRAISE THE METHODOLOGICAL RIGOUR OF SCIENTIFIC STUDIES: A NEW TEACHING APPROACH

摘要

Searching and analysing research studies require specific knowledge and skills, which are supposedlylearned at the university through research methodology courses. However, empirical evidencesuggests that awareness of having access to electronic bibliographic databases and knowledge ofwell-established research designs have not been acquired by several governmental policy analystscurrently on duty. Our past experience in training graduate students in critical appraisal of scientificstudies has led us to innovate in developing a new software application aimed at facilitating thesystematic critical appraisal of different types of research studies including experimental and quasiexperimentalstudies, quantitative observational studies (cross-sectional and longitudinal), qualitativestudies, and narrative & opinion papers. The aim of this presentation is to: i) define the concept ofcritical appraisal, ii) report the results of our past efforts to teach it to Master's students, and iii) presenta new tool that we developed to facilitate both teaching and learning.