March Article Discussion on Group Research Projects for Master’s Students

Research and understanding the research process is an important skill for dietitians in any practice area. The Institute of Medicine’s Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality Report supports recommendations for a research based curriculum for health related fields at the Masters level. However, dietetics doesn’t currently have knowledge and competencies for the master’s level nutrition degree. Evidence-based practice has been identified as essential components of advanced-level nutrition practice. Teaching students to perform evidence-based research is important. This study shared results of the process that one university is doing to provide research experience to students by having them complete a group research project, yet each student completes the components individually.

Details of the research courses are provided in the article.

Advantages of the group research project included allowing all students to participate, teaching collaboration skills, and making sure there was timely program completion. Limitations were minimal but included additional work on the faculty by developing the research topics and unequal participation by students depending on motivational level.

With a Masters degree required in 2014 for all DI programs, this article is helpful to provide programs with one example of how to incorporate evidence-based research into the curriculum.

Academy Article:
Developing Research Knowledge and Competence in Master’s Students: Individualizing Group Research Projects

Article: http://www.andjrnl.org/article/S2212-2672(15)01273-3/fulltext

Additional Article:

Brody RA, Byham-Gray L, Touger-Decker R, Passannate MR, O’Sullivan-Maillet J. Identifying components of advance-level clinical nutrition practice: A Delphi study.

JAND, 2012;112(6):859-869.   

http://www.andjrnl.org/article/S2212-2672(12)00289-4/fulltext