Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for IDS 234 archive revision 202104

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Effective Term:
Fall 2021 through Winter 2025

Course Number:
IDS 234
Course Title:
Introduction to the Culture of Human Health Research
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Introduces the cultural, ethical, and societal issues associated with research that impacts humans. Explores practices and conventions that provide for the safety of subjects and integrity of research in biomedical, behavioral, social, psychology, public health, and other related areas of research. Introduces a range of career pathways in human health research. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

The course outcomes meet the NIH training requirements for responsible conduct of research and ethics in the context of biomedical, behavioral and public health related research.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  1. Identify potential sources of bias and conflict of interest in research study design and implementation.
  2. Critique existing research proposals for adherence to policies regarding human subjects, live vertebrate animal subjects in research, and safe laboratory practices.
  3. Describe examples of academic and industry collaborations and demonstrate collaborative research skills.
  4. Explain the importance and limitations of peer review at each level of the research process.

  5. Employ basic tools and practices for data acquisition and management, taking into consideration data ownership and appropriate sharing of data, when conducting a research study.

  6. Describe historical examples of research misconduct and policies for handling misconduct.
  7. Describe current practice in responsible authorship and publication.
  8. Compose responses to case studies concerning the scientist as a responsible member of society and contemporary ethical issues in biomedical research.
  9. Identify the range of health related research careers.

Social Inquiry and Analysis

Students completing an associate degree at Portland Community College will be able to apply methods of inquiry and analysis to examine social contexts and the diversity of human thought and experience.

General education philosophy statement

In IDS 234 “Introduction to the Culture of Human Health Research” students spend much of the class examining ethical and social requirements of responsible participation in society, specifically focused on the rights and responsibilities of people conducting scientific research as well as the humans or other organisms that are the subjects or beneficiaries of that research. Students enrolled in the class are asked to reflect on a range of ethical frameworks and apply those frameworks in case studies. Additionally students evaluate historical examples of ethical lapses and the continuing impact on specific populations and society as a whole. Students also will apply the concepts of responsible conduct of research and use both qualitative and quantitative reasoning to develop and carry out a research project on a health issue that impacts the PCC community.

Aspirational Goals

Students will reflect upon their own academic and career path into biomedical-, behavioral-, or public health-related research fields and will gain confidence in their ability to pursue a career in biomedical research.

Students will gain an appreciation of the culture and practice of biomedical, behavioral, and public health research, including reflection on current ethical standards that accompany human health-related research.

Course Activities and Design

Weekly discussion will be led by the instructor or students, based upon readings, case studies, or literature reviews.  Students will write reflective reports, debate issues, and critique current studies. Students will design, propose, defend, peer review, and execute a pilot research project.  Students will write a final research proposal and will present findings of their pilot projects.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

  • Written reflection exercises based on the weekly readings. Rubrics will be used to evaluate written submissions.
  • Participation and relevant contributions to guided group discussions.
  • Written research proposal to be evaluated by rubric.
  • Participation in peer review of research proposals.
  • Poster presentation will be assessed by each faculty member for content and demonstration of mastery

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

  • Research ethics
  • Data analysis
  • Information literacy
  • Responsible authorship
  • Collaboration
  • Scientific communication
  • The role of social justice in science
  • Human subjects protection
  • Full breadth of biomedical and health research
  • Careers in research
  • Safety considerations in research