2020-2021 / METO0003-1

Introduction to scientific method and to experimentation

Duration

8h Th, 8h Pr

Number of credits

 Bachelor in biomedicine2 crédits 

Lecturer

Fanny Comblain

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Course 1:

  • Definition of the scientific method and subtypes
          - Induction versus deduction           - Hypothetic-deductive scientific method
  • History of the scientific method
          - Greece (Aristote)           - Medieval           - Renaissance (F. Bacon et Galilée)           - 19th century (A. Comte et C. Bernard - OHERIC)           - 20th century (K. Popper, T. Kuhn, I. Lakatos)           - Current vision
Course 2:
  • Scientific method steps
  • How to formulate a research hypothesis ? 
  • Analyse scales
  • Sampling
  • Placebo and Hawthorne effects
  • Positive and negative controls 
  • Internal standards
  • Validity threats
  • Measures quality
  • Reproducibility
  • Ethics
  • Report writing 
  • Results presentation to various audience
Course 3:
  • Objectivity versus subjectivity
  • Quantitative versus qualitative
  • Famous experiments : Miller - Mitchell - Roentgen
  • Serendipity : penicillin - Viagra - thalidomide
  Course 4:
  • A laboratory experience
 

Practical part: Group work

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

 

  • To give the basis to develop a reflexive practice related to the scientific method
  • To develop a critical mind concerning the establishment of an experimental plan based on a research hypothesis
  • To develop a synthesis mind
 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Theorical part online through Collaborate
Practical part in face-to-face or online according to the evolution of the sanitary crisis

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

Yellow code : oral presentation on site (CHU Sart Tilman)
Orange code : oral presentation online through Collaborate
No exam in January 2021

Recommended or required readings

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

oral exam

- Remote

written work

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred remote


Additional information:

First session work: Group work. Bibliographic search + writing of a scientific report + preparation of a summary of this report (ppt presentation and/or a video capsule) (analysis of synthesis skills) + review of a work (analysis of critical skills) and oral presentation. Each student will get an individual score related to its implication.


Second session work: Individual work. Bibliographic search and writing of a scientific report and/or written exam.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

Fanny Comblain, Ph.D.
Histology, Department of Biomedical and Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine Quartier Hôpital Avenue Hippocrate 15, B36 +4 4000 Liège, Belgium Phone: +32 4 366 51 72  e-mail: fcomblain@uliege.be