Express Rather Than Impress - Discussing Individual Research Challenges Among a Group

“Express rather than impress” - discussing individual research challenges among a group of early career researchers

Marij Hillena, Isabelle Schollb, Valentina Martinellic, Kimberly Gudzuned,

Peter Pypee

a Department of Medical Psychology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

b Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany

c Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy

d Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA

e Department of General Practice and General Health Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

f Division of Clinical Psychology,University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

Purpose:

Scientific conferences primarily focus on presenting research results. However, early career researchers can benefit from discussing ideas and challenges earlier in their projects. In addition to guidance from senior mentors, peer-to-peer support can help overcome methodological or organizational difficulties and facilitate future work. This workshop aims to create an open and interactive environment where early career researchers can share doubts and on-going challenges, learn from each other, and build a support network.

Learning objectives:

1) To understand the basic principles of peer-to-peer support and critical approach to research.

2) To share and receive constructive feedback and suggestions to help address personal research challenges

3) To develop networking skills and progressively build and expand international support networks for early career researchers

Teaching methods and planning:

The workshop will be advertised in advance to early career researchers of communication in health care (through social media and senior researchers). All applicants submit a short description of their research in progress and current challenges for prior review.

-Introductions and a short didactic session discussing and constructively critiquing a peer’s ongoing research (15 minutes).

-Division into small groups of 3 or 4 people, each facilitated by one workshop organizer. Participants consecutively present their on-going research and share their problems or challenges. The groups constructively discusses the research problem and helps develop solutions (60 minutes).

-Merging of the groups to discuss lessons learned during the small group work and gather ideas on future use of peer-to-peer support and network-formation (15 minutes).

Teaching materials

-Slides

-Flip-over chart

Evaluation

Participants, and preferably one tEACH member, will provide feedback at the end of the workshop

Number of participants:

Maximum 16. Signing up prior to the workshop,only by early career researchers (i.e. 10 years into their research careers).