Importance of Research in Medical Education.

Abstract

Research is where we rise above more common senseto investigate and uncover knowledge. FN kerlingerdefined research in his article “Foundation of Belauoural Research” in 1973 as.“Systemic, controlled, empirical and vertical investigation of natural Phenomenon guided by Theory and hypothesis about the presumed relations among suchphenomenon”.For centuries, teachers have used their knowledgebase and communication skills to lecture the studentsand considered those lectures as the basic instrumentto develop good doctors.However as “Evidence based practice” has stormed theworld of medicine medical education could not escapeits effects either. Now the small world of medical education requires both the gathering of evidence and its critical interpretation. The former is bringing more medicaleducationalists into the practice of research and thelatter is requiring all the medical educationalists theability to evaluate the research carried out the slogan of“Publish or perish has not spared the world of medicaleducation either.Although the specialty of research in medical educationis just over 3.5 decades old when a small group of clinicians and medical researchers started it at the medicalschool in buffalo, New York, yet it has contributed substantially in understanding the learning process. Themedical education community is much more aware ofevidence in educational decision making than ever before. Now important educational decisions can not bemade on the basis of persuasion or policies as peoplewill demand evidence to guide educational decisionmaking. Research has changed the mind and attitudeof medical educational community.