Diving In: Experiential Learning about Research

摘要

“I hate research,” I hear many junior physicians say. Theyhave likely received the advice given to many novices looking toget started with scholarly work: find an experienced researcherand jump on to one of their hulking projects for a brief momentof chart abstraction, recruitment of subjects, or data analysis.Certainly, finding mentors with a track record of success islaudable, and this approach does “check the box”—fulfillingthe scholarly project requirement to graduate from residency orfilling up a curriculum vitae for academic promotion. It is perhapsnot surprising, however, that staring at endless spreadsheets ofdata, stripped of nearly all context, can dissuade potential buddingscholars. This approach is akin to dipping only a toe in the watersof scholarly inquiry, allowing potential researchers to experienceonly one tiny piece of a much larger whole and missing thechance to foster a spirit of engagement with the scientific process.