Course content

This course is mandatory for all PhD candidates at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at NTNU. The primary focus of the course is to provide insight and practical experience in identifying and critically reviewing relevant literature, as well as clear and effective writing and dissemination of findings to the research community and the public. The course includes a five-day on-campus teaching block with various learning activities (35 hours). In addition, 165 hours estimated workload of preparation, reading and independent work, including course assignments to be completed following the on-campus teaching block.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

After completed course, the student has knowledge on central principles and practical aspects related to:

• The transition from student to independent scholar
• Effective communication of research to the public
• Clear and effective academic writing
• Good citation practices
• Searching for relevant literature
• Critical assessment of literature
• Summarizing the current state of knowledge
• Copyright and intellectual property
• Responsible use of digital writing tools
• The peer review process
• Open Science principles

Skills

After completed course the student can:

• Recognize the differences between passively consuming and restating published research and engaging in independent critical thinking.
• Adapt public research communication to relevant outlets and formats.
• Search for and identify relevant literature in an efficient, transparent and reproducible manner.
• Critically assess research in an objective manner using suitable tools and checklists.
• Summarize the current state of knowledge through critical and balanced literature reviews.
• Write academic texts in line with central principles for clear and effective writing.
• Cite and paraphrase sources following proper referencing principles.
• Use published illustrations in line with copyright and intellectual property rights.
• Utilize various digital tools, such as AI, for relevant tasks in accordance with institutional and publisher policies.
• Publish and share research in accordance with open science policies.
• Draft a data management plan for a project.
• Conduct peer reviews of scientific work.

General competence

Through the course, participants have enhanced their ability to critically, and reflectively assess research literature and the research process as a whole. Additionally, they have developed transferable skills for finding relevant literature efficiently, evaluating the quality of sources objectively, and producing critical reviews of the current knowledge status. Finally, participants have gained insight into the principles of clear and effective writing, as well as an understanding of conventions, policies, and best practices in academic publishing, research communication, and open science.

Learning methods and activities

The course includes preparation (completion of online courses and formulation of a suitable research question (6 hours assigned workload)) prior to a five-day on-campus teaching block (70 hours assigned workload), followed by a period of individual work leading up to the home exam (124 hours assigned workload). During the on-campus session, learning activities will be delivered through lectures, online courses, seminars, group work, workshops, and presentations. After the on-campus session, participants will draft and submit a presentation of their PhD project aimed at the public and give feedback on a fellow student's draft (12 hours assigned workload). Participants must also submit a draft of a documented literature search on a topic related to their own research for evaluation (22 hours assigned workload). The literature identified will serve as the basis for a drafted critical review on the selected topic (80 hours assigned workload), with the included sources forming part of the course curriculum. Following an anonymous peer-to-peer review of the draft among participants (10 hours assigned workload), a final revised version of the critical review will be submitted for final evaluation as a home exam. This literature review may later be used in the extended summary or introduction of the PhD thesis. Teaching activities, assignments, and the exam will be conducted in English. The course requires physical attendance, and all lectures and problem-solving activities are mandatory. The course coordinator may approve up to 20% absence from mandatory teaching activities.

Compulsory assignments

• Attend at least 80% of the on-campus session activities
• Complete mandatory online courses
• Draft a public presentation of your project and give feedback on another draft, as a critical friend
• Draft and submit a documented literature search on a selected topic
• Draft a critical literature review and provide peer-review comments on a fellow student's draft

Recommended previous knowledge

Enrollment to the PhD-programme at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU. The participants are ideally at an early stage of their PhD.

Required previous knowledge

Completed master's degree. Medical students enrolled in The Student Research Programme.

Course materials

The course curriculum is individualized and defined by the selected sources included in the mandatory literature review. The curriculum should consist of at least 12 different sources, totalling a minimum of 120 pages. Contributions from books, book chapters, reports, and similar materials should normally not exceed 60 pages in total. Additionally, material shared during the course will also be part of the curriculum.

Recommended reading: Helen Aveyard. Doing a literature review in health and social care: a practical guide. 4th ed., 2019. Web. Zeiger, Mimi: Essentials of writing biomedical research papers. Second edition. McGraw Hill Companies 2000. Strunk, William. The Elements of Style. 2011. Web.

Credit reductions