An MD-PhD program in Brazil: students’ concepts of science and of common sense

In 1995, a pioneering MD-PhD program was initiated in Brazil for the training of medical scientists in experimental sciences at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The program’s aim was achieved with respect to publication of theses in the form of papers with international visibility...

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Main Authors: R.V. Oliveira, P.C.C. Campos, P.A.S. Mourão
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica 2011-11-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2011001100005
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author R.V. Oliveira
P.C.C. Campos
P.A.S. Mourão
author_facet R.V. Oliveira
P.C.C. Campos
P.A.S. Mourão
author_sort R.V. Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description In 1995, a pioneering MD-PhD program was initiated in Brazil for the training of medical scientists in experimental sciences at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The program’s aim was achieved with respect to publication of theses in the form of papers with international visibility and also in terms of fostering the scientific careers of the graduates. The expansion of this type of program is one of the strategies for improving the preparation of biomedical researchers in Brazil. A noteworthy absence of interest in carrying out clinical research limits the ability of young Brazilian physicians to solve biomedical problems. To understand the students’ views of science, we used qualitative and quantitative triangulation methods, as well as participant observation to evaluate the students’ concepts of science and common sense. Subjective aspects were clearly less evident in their concepts of science. There was a strong concern about "methodology", "truth" and "usefulness". "Intuition", "creativity" and "curiosity" were the least mentioned thematic categories. Students recognized the value of intuition when it appeared as an explicit option but they did not refer to it spontaneously. Common sense was associated with "consensus", "opinion" and ideas that "require scientific validation". Such observations indicate that MD-PhD students share with their senior academic colleagues the same reluctance to consider common sense as a valid adjunct for the solution of scientific problems. Overcoming this difficulty may be an important step toward stimulating the interest of physicians in pursuing experimental research.
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spelling doaj.art-7d546bcf3e714ddaafc310cc1b2168092022-12-22T00:04:08ZengAssociação Brasileira de Divulgação CientíficaBrazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research0100-879X1414-431X2011-11-01441111051111An MD-PhD program in Brazil: students’ concepts of science and of common senseR.V. OliveiraP.C.C. CamposP.A.S. MourãoIn 1995, a pioneering MD-PhD program was initiated in Brazil for the training of medical scientists in experimental sciences at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The program’s aim was achieved with respect to publication of theses in the form of papers with international visibility and also in terms of fostering the scientific careers of the graduates. The expansion of this type of program is one of the strategies for improving the preparation of biomedical researchers in Brazil. A noteworthy absence of interest in carrying out clinical research limits the ability of young Brazilian physicians to solve biomedical problems. To understand the students’ views of science, we used qualitative and quantitative triangulation methods, as well as participant observation to evaluate the students’ concepts of science and common sense. Subjective aspects were clearly less evident in their concepts of science. There was a strong concern about "methodology", "truth" and "usefulness". "Intuition", "creativity" and "curiosity" were the least mentioned thematic categories. Students recognized the value of intuition when it appeared as an explicit option but they did not refer to it spontaneously. Common sense was associated with "consensus", "opinion" and ideas that "require scientific validation". Such observations indicate that MD-PhD students share with their senior academic colleagues the same reluctance to consider common sense as a valid adjunct for the solution of scientific problems. Overcoming this difficulty may be an important step toward stimulating the interest of physicians in pursuing experimental research.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2011001100005MD-PhD program evaluationConcept of scienceCommon sense conceptMedical research trainingMethodological triangulation
spellingShingle R.V. Oliveira
P.C.C. Campos
P.A.S. Mourão
An MD-PhD program in Brazil: students’ concepts of science and of common sense
Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research
MD-PhD program evaluation
Concept of science
Common sense concept
Medical research training
Methodological triangulation
title An MD-PhD program in Brazil: students’ concepts of science and of common sense
title_full An MD-PhD program in Brazil: students’ concepts of science and of common sense
title_fullStr An MD-PhD program in Brazil: students’ concepts of science and of common sense
title_full_unstemmed An MD-PhD program in Brazil: students’ concepts of science and of common sense
title_short An MD-PhD program in Brazil: students’ concepts of science and of common sense
title_sort md phd program in brazil students 8217 concepts of science and of common sense
topic MD-PhD program evaluation
Concept of science
Common sense concept
Medical research training
Methodological triangulation
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2011001100005
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