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Medical students are using popular research tool to pump out misleading studies

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Re: Medical students are using popular research tool to pump out misleading studies

#11

Post by niekmaas »

fn-mote wrote: post #3

My assumption is the credibility of a non-PhD-holding medical student’s research is 0, just like (almost) any other inexperienced researcher.

Well, that is a statement..! As an MD PhD with over 60 (co-)publications including multiple in top 1% journals I can say for sure that this is untrue. Of course this may be different per topic and country, but there is perfect research being published by non-PhD scientists. In fact, the PI from a top-tier US university I collaborate with for over 10 years doesn't even have a PhD.

Re: Medical students are using popular research tool to pump out misleading studies

#13

Post by KeplerBoy »

niekmaas wrote: post #11
fn-mote wrote: post #3

My assumption is the credibility of a non-PhD-holding medical student’s research is 0, just like (almost) any other inexperienced researcher.

Well, that is a statement..! As an MD PhD with over 60 (co-)publications including multiple in top 1% journals I can say for sure that this is untrue. Of course this may be different per topic and country, but there is perfect research being published by non-PhD scientists. In fact, the PI from a top-tier US university I collaborate with for over 10 years doesn't even have a PhD.

You can be a PI without having a PhD?

Re: Medical students are using popular research tool to pump out misleading studies

#14

Post by bflesch »

fn-mote wrote: post #3

My assumption is the credibility of a non-PhD-holding medical student’s research is 0, just like (almost) any other inexperienced researcher.

In the end it is about personal integrity and idealism, no matter what the titles are.

Totally different if someone's self image is that of a researcher for benefit of humankind or if they pick the career because they want to drive a Porsche.

Re: Medical students are using popular research tool to pump out misleading studies

#15

Post by bflesch »

thomasfedb wrote: post #10
fn-mote wrote: post #3

My assumption is the credibility of a non-PhD-holding medical student’s research is 0, just like (almost) any other inexperienced researcher.

As a clinician-academic who published in The Lancet during medical school, I think this goes a bit far. Unfortunately student doctors are encouraged to publish whether or not they actually have an interest in research… but that shouldn’t discount the work of those who are genuinely engaged. But certainly we should always approach the literature critically, including the author list, journal of publication and its pee…

I was severely disillusioned about the quality of clinical studies.

Would you publish if the head honcho of your double-blind study insists to know what treatment a certain patient is receiving?

You have this discussion about research ethics and subsequent beratement once, and then you either mentally check out or go to another hospital.

Re: Medical students are using popular research tool to pump out misleading studies

#16

Post by [deleted] »

niekmaas wrote: post #11
fn-mote wrote: post #3

My assumption is the credibility of a non-PhD-holding medical student’s research is 0, just like (almost) any other inexperienced researcher.

Well, that is a statement..! As an MD PhD with over 60 (co-)publications including multiple in top 1% journals I can say for sure that this is untrue. Of course this may be different per topic and country, but there is perfect research being published by non-PhD scientists. In fact, the PI from a top-tier US university I collaborate with for over 10 years doesn't even have a PhD.

[deleted]

Re: Medical students are using popular research tool to pump out misleading studies

#17

Post by mishellaneous »

sebmellen wrote: post #6
fn-mote wrote: post #3

My assumption is the credibility of a non-PhD-holding medical student’s research is 0, just like (almost) any other inexperienced researcher.

This is really far too broad a brush. Do most medical students publish useless case studies trying to jockey for residency spots and signal hustle/devotion? No doubt! But there are a good handful of medical students who are still (surprisingly) in it for the medicine and not the money. And that handful is exceedingly capable; no reason they can’t publish valuable work with the right collaborators and resources.

in that case, it's a question of proportion. we cannot automatically conclude that a (supposed) "good handful" doing good research makes up for "most students" doing bad research.

Re: Medical students are using popular research tool to pump out misleading studies

#19

Post by BrtByte »

fn-mote wrote: post #3

My assumption is the credibility of a non-PhD-holding medical student’s research is 0, just like (almost) any other inexperienced researcher.

A med student can absolutely contribute useful work, especially with good supervision. The issue is more that inexperienced authors plus publication pressure plus easy tooling is a bad combination

Re: Medical students are using popular research tool to pump out misleading studies

#20

Post by BrtByte »

thomasfedb wrote: post #10
fn-mote wrote: post #3

My assumption is the credibility of a non-PhD-holding medical student’s research is 0, just like (almost) any other inexperienced researcher.

As a clinician-academic who published in The Lancet during medical school, I think this goes a bit far. Unfortunately student doctors are encouraged to publish whether or not they actually have an interest in research… but that shouldn’t discount the work of those who are genuinely engaged. But certainly we should always approach the literature critically, including the author list, journal of publication and its pee…

I think this is the right distinction
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