Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 3
RESEARCH AND DESIGN IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
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RESEARCH AND DESIGN IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Biomedical Science
Class: SHS 3
Term: 1st Term
Week: 12
Grade code: 1.4.1.LI.2
Strand code: 4
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: 1.4.1.CS.1
Indicator code: 1.4.1.LI.2
Theme: BIOMEDICAL INNOVATIONS
Subtheme: RESEARCH AND DESIGN IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
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In today's world, we are flooded with information, especially about health. From WhatsApp messages about "miracle cures" to news articles about new diseases, it is difficult to know what to believe. As future biomedical professionals and informed citizens of Ghana, it is a critical skill to be able to find and trust reliable scientific information online. This lesson will equip you with the tools to move beyond simple Google searches and become a skilled researcher who can identify credible scientific evidence to make informed decisions about health, for yourself, your family, and your community.
This section breaks down the core ideas you need to master this topic. 2.1. Search Engines vs. Journal Databases
Think of the internet as a massive, disorganised library. A search engine is like a librarian who runs around and brings you *every* book that mentions your topic, regardless of whether it's a comic book, a diary, an advertisement, or a university textbook. Search Engine: A program that searches for and identifies items in a database that correspond to keywords or characters specified by the user. Examples: Google, Bing, Yahoo. Pros: Fast, easy to use, searches the entire public web. Cons: Results are a mix of everything: advertisements, blogs, news, opinions, and scientific articles. It is your job to sort the good from the bad. Quality is not guaranteed. Journal Database (or Scholarly Database): A specialised online library that contains a collection of published academic and scientific articles. Examples: PubMed: A free database focusing on biomedical and life sciences literature. Maintained by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Google Scholar: A free search engine that specifically searches for scholarly literature across many disciplines. HINARI: A programme by the WHO that provides free or very low-cost online access to major journals in biomedical and related social sciences to public institutions in developing countries, including Ghana. Many Ghanaian universities have access. Pros: Contains high-quality, credible information. Most articles are peer-reviewed. Cons: Can be more difficult to search, and some articles may require a subscription to read the full text (though abstracts are usually free).
> What is Peer-Review? This is the most important concept for scientific credibility. Before an article is published in a reputable scientific journal, it is sent to other experts (peers) in the same field. These experts review the research for quality, accuracy, and proper methodology. They provide feedback and can recommend that the article be accepted, revised, or rejected. This process acts as a quality filter, ensuring that published research is valid and reliable. 2.2. How to Evaluate a Source: The CRAAP Test
When you find an article, how do you know if it's trustworthy? Use the CRAAP test, an easy-to-remember acronym for evaluating sources. C - Currency: *The timeliness of the information.* Question: When was the information published or last updated? Why it matters: In a fast-moving field like genetics or virology, a 10-year-old article might be out of date. For a topic like basic human anatomy, an older source might still be perfectly fine. For COVID-19 research, information from 2023 is much more valuable than from 2020. R - Relevance: *The importance of the information for your needs.* Question: Does the information relate to your topic? Who is the intended audience? Why it matters: An article might be credible but not useful for your specific question. A highly technical research paper for PhDs is not relevant if you need a basic overview for a class presentation. A - Authority: *The source of the information.* Question: Who is the author? What are their credentials (e.g., MD, PhD)? Are they an expert from a reputable institution like the University of Ghana Medical School or the Noguchi Memorial Institute? Who is the publisher (e.g., a respected journal like *The Lancet* vs. a personal blog)? Why it matters: Credibility comes from expertise. Information from the Ghana Health Service or the World Health Organization is more authoritative than a random post on Facebook. A - Accuracy: *The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content.* Question: Is the information supported by evidence? Does the author cite their sources in a reference list? Can you verify the information from other credible sources? Are there spelling or grammatical errors? Why it matters: Scientific claims require proof. Reliable sources will always show you where their information comes from. Many errors can be a sign of a low-quality, untrustworthy source. P - Purpose: *The reason the information exists.* Question: Why was this article written? Is it to inform, teach, persuade, or sell you something? Is the information fact or opinion? Is there a clear bias? Why it matters: An article trying to sell you a herbal supplement has a different purpose from a research paper trying to present objective findings. Be wary of sources with a clear financial or political agenda.