This project will explore the role of structured biomedical information in the education of medical students. The proposed work will focus on how novices use a database developed to support learning of the biomedical sciences, and the effects these interactions have on knowledge of specific content domains. By clarifying how students use a structured information resource to promote learning, the proposed studies can guide the creation of learning tools employing information technology. The proposed study has two complementary aims. The first explores outcomes: how the interplay between an external information resource--the database--and a student's internal cognitive resources shapes knowledge organization and understanding of a content domain.
The second aim explores information search strategies: how searching proficiency develops over time, the generalizability of searching skills across databases, how patterns of database access vary with problem complexity, and the relationship between searching proficiency and proficiency in problem solving. The research design is structured but, at the same time, naturalistic. We will create a """"""""controlled information environment"""""""" within segments of the curriculum at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine. The basis of this environment will be the existing INQUIRER knowledge exploration system developed by the investigators to support education in medical microbiology, and to be extended as part of the proposed research to address the pathology of infectious diseases. The research data will derive from students functioning in ongoing curricula, working with the database and solving problems created by the faculty as part of the routine activities of learning the biomedical sciences.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01LM004843-01
Application #
3373966
Study Section
(SRC)
Project Start
1988-03-01
Project End
1990-02-28
Budget Start
1988-03-01
Budget End
1989-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
078861598
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Abraham, V A; Friedman, C P; Wildemuth, B M et al. (1999) Student and faculty performance in clinical simulations with access to a searchable information resource. Proc AMIA Symp :648-52
Downs, S M; Marasigan, F; Abraham, V et al. (1999) Scoring performance on computer-based patient simulations: beyond value of information. Proc AMIA Symp :520-4
Downs, S M; Friedman, C P; Marasigan, F et al. (1997) A decision analytic method for scoring performance on computer-based patient simulations. Proc AMIA Annu Fall Symp :667-71
Friedman, C P; Wildemuth, B M; Muriuki, M et al. (1996) A comparison of hypertext and Boolean access to biomedical information. Proc AMIA Annu Fall Symp :2-6
Wildemuth, B M; de Bliek, R; Friedman, C P et al. (1994) Information-seeking behaviors of medical students: a classification of questions asked of librarians and physicians. Bull Med Libr Assoc 82:295-304
de Bliek, R; Friedman, C P; Wildemuth, B M et al. (1994) Information retrieved from a database and the augmentation of personal knowledge. J Am Med Inform Assoc 1:328-38
de Bliek, R; Friedman, C P; Wildemuth, B M et al. (1993) Database access and problem solving in the basic sciences. Proc Annu Symp Comput Appl Med Care :678-82
de Bliek, R; Martz, J M; Reich, G M et al. (1992) Domain knowledge and information retrieval in bacteriology: an information science perspective. Acad Med 67:S54-6
Friedman, C P; de Bliek, R; Gilmer, J S et al. (1992) Influence of a computer database and problem exercises on students' knowledge of bacteriology. Acad Med 67:332-8
Friedman, C P; Twarog, R G; File, D D et al. (1990) Computer databases as an educational tool in the basic sciences. Acad Med 65:15-6

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