Research Skills

Research Scholarship

FoMD uses Boyer’s definition of scholarship as outlined in his book “Scholarship reconsidered: Priorities of the professoriate”1 which outlines four distinct domains:

  • Scholarship of Teaching: communicating ones' knowledge effectively to learners.
  • Scholarship of Integration: looking for connections and relationships.
  • Scholarship of Application: building bridges between theory and practice.
  • Scholarship of Discovery: according to Boyer, this scholarship reflects our need as human beings to confront the unknown and to think freshly in every discipline.

FoMD uses the Glassick’s criteria2 to judge the quality of scholarship: clear goals, adequate preparation, appropriate methodology, significant results, effective presentation, and reflective critique.

To learn more about how FoMD describes scholarship and how it is applied at FEC, please review the following guide: The ABCs of Academic Scholarship

  1. Boyer EL. Scholarship reconsidered: Priorities of the professoriate. Princeton University Press, 3175 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.; 1990 Dec 3.
  2. Glassick CE, Huber MT, Maeroff GI. Scholarship assessed: Evaluation of the professoriate. John Wiley & Sons; 1997 Aug 15.

To aid in development of scholarship in all domains, the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry offers workshops and seminars, guides and peer-assessment tools, and contacts for information, guidance and support.

Workshops

The following interactive workshops provide members of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry with the knowledge, skills and strategies to become more effective and accomplished researchers and research supervisors.

Selecting Research Inquiries, Methods + Approaches in Educational Research

Deciding on the research inquiry (e.g., quantitative research), method (e.g., cohort study), and approach (hybrid cohort study) stands as the cornerstone of any research endeavor. The complexity of these decisions often poses challenges for researchers, as indicated by both research findings and anecdotal experiences. This workshop is designed to empower participants with the knowledge needed to understand the process of selecting research inquiries, methods, and approaches in educational research.

Predatory Publishing: Buyer Beware

Predatory publishers have become an increasing blight upon scholarly communication. They exploit the open access model without providing the editorial and publishing services associated with legitimate scholarly journals. Participants will learn how to assess journal credibility, understand the consequences of publishing in questionable outlets, and discover practical tools and resources to make informed publishing decisions. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or new to the research landscape, this session will equip you to publish with confidence and integrity.

Comprehensive Literature Searching

This hands-on workshop will cover how to do a comprehensive literature search on a topic in the Medline database. Participants will learn to use several advanced search techniques such as subject headings and proximity searching. We will discuss new AI-based search programs and how you can use these tools for quick literature searches but also to strengthen your comprehensive literature searches.

Measuring Research Impact

Curious about how to showcase the impact of your research? This workshop will explore how citation counts, journal metrics, and alternative measures can help demonstrate the influence of your scholarly work. We’ll delve into the h-index, Journal Impact Factor, and other indicators. You’ll also learn how to identify top journals in your field for future publishing opportunities and discover practical tips to increase the visibility of your research. Whether you're preparing for a grant application, tenure review, award/job application or simply want to raise the profile of your work, this session will equip you with the tools to measure and communicate your impact effectively.

Research 101

This workshop will provide attendees with practical tools and key human connections that can help you be successful with research projects. A broad panel will present on ethics, RSO and grant management, database development, research specific regulations, and training opportunities.

You may view the Calendar of upcoming workshops and then click on individual course links to register, or see the Events Listing page. Or contact fomdfdev@ualberta.ca. Additionally, watch for emails from the Faculty Development Office for new workshop offerings and research resources.

FoMD Resources