Research in Medicine: Planning a Project - Writing a Thesis

by George Murrell , Christopher Huang , Harold Ellis

• ISBN13: 9780521626705
• ISBN10: 0521626706
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-06-28
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Doctors and other health professionals are increasingly drawn towards research in the course of their training, often with little guidance on the skills, techniques and personal qualities required of a medical research worker. This short and helpful book has been written by three authors with long experience of performing and evaluating research in medicine. It provides essential advice for the beginner, covering in a practical and accessible fashion all the steps involved from choosing a research project to preparing and submitting a thesis. Now in its second edition, many important revisions have been made including updates on the use of computers, career implications, degree structures and ethical issues in human and animal experimentation. The illustrations by David Langdon provide a wry commentary on the ups and downs of life in research.

Author Biography

George Murrell is Associate Professor and Director of Orthopaedic Surgery at St George Hospital, University of New South Wales. He started his medical training in Australia, and first began serious research towards a DPhil in orthopaedic surgery as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. Christopher Huang is Reader in Cellular Physiolgy at the University of Cambridge and Director of Studies in Medical Sciences at New Hall, Cambridge Harold Ellis CBE is Clinical Anatomist and Emeritus Professor of Surgery at the University of London. During his distinguished career he has served as vice president for both the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal Society of Medicine (UK).

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Introduction	1	(4)
Aims of this book	1	(1)
Time frame	2	(3)
Why do research?	5	(4)
The challenge	5	(1)
Becoming a better clinician	5	(1)
As part of an academic career	6	(1)
Competing in the job market	6	(1)
Fame	6	(1)
Lifestyle	7	(2)
Reading for a research degree	9	(14)
What degrees are available?	9	(1)
Time required for completion	10	(1)
Your own qualifications	10	(1)
Individual university regulations	11	(1)
The intercalated BSc	11	(1)
Doctor of Medicine (MD or DM)	12	(1)
Master of Surgery (MS)	12	(1)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD or DPhil)	13	(1)
Available funding	13	(1)
Prestige	14	(1)
Subject matter	14	(1)
Providing for your future career	15	(1)
Medical careers in different English-speaking countries	16	(7)
Applying for research positions	23	(10)
Timing your period of research	23	(2)
Choice of department	25	(1)
Applying for scholarships and research positions	26	(1)
Background information about the available position	27	(1)
Your curriculum vitae	27	(1)
Approaching referees	28	(1)
Graduate work in the United States	29	(4)
Research supervisors and projects	33	(14)
Your research supervisor	33	(2)
Choosing a research topic	35	(1)
Considering your own interests and aspirations	35	(1)
Your supervisor's interests	36	(1)
Considering the laboratory facilities available	36	(1)
Human medical research	37	(4)
Experimental systems	41	(1)
Ethical aspects	41	(3)
Team vs individual work	44	(3)
The first phase: getting started	47	(20)
A doctor in research	47	(1)
Public relations	48	(1)
Self-discipline	49	(1)
Maintaining clinical commitments	49	(3)
Extracurricular activities	52	(1)
Fitting in postgraduate medical examinations	52	(1)
Getting started at the bench	53	(1)
Choosing laboratory techniques	54	(1)
Planning experiments	54	(1)
Keeping careful notes	55	(1)
Consulting a statistician	56	(1)
Setting out	57	(1)
Research reports	58	(1)
Following the literature	58	(2)
Compiling references	60	(1)
Personal computers	61	(3)
Choosing software	64	(1)
Internet	64	(3)
The second phase: frustration	67	(4)
React creatively to failure	67	(1)
Repeat the same procedure	67	(1)
Alter the procedure or method of attack	68	(1)
Modify your goal	68	(1)
Give up the procedure or goal	68	(3)
The third phase: as results arrive	71	(8)
Introduction	71	(1)
Presentations at meetings	72	(1)
Verbal presentations	72	(1)
Poster presentations	73	(1)
Funding your visit	73	(1)
Publishing papers	74	(1)
Submitting a paper	75	(1)
Steps leading to publication	76	(1)
Securing your future	77	(2)
The fourth phase: writing the thesis	79	(10)
Time and place	79	(2)
Winding up experimental work	81	(1)
When do you stop experimental work completely?	81	(1)
Planning your thesis	82	(1)
Format of your thesis	82	(2)
Order of writing	84	(1)
Photocopying facilities	84	(1)
Preparing illustrations	85	(1)
Photographic work	86	(3)
Scientific writing	89	(6)
Decide what to say	89	(1)
Decide how it needs to be said	89	(1)
Organize your thoughts	90	(1)
Write quickly	90	(1)
Scientific English	90	(1)
Re-reading and re-drafting	91	(4)
Assembling the thesis	95	(14)
Introduction	95	(1)
Title page and contents	95	(1)
Acknowledgements	96	(1)
Abstract	97	(1)
Introduction	97	(1)
Materials and methods	98	(2)
Results	100	(1)
Discussion	101	(1)
Future work and unanswered questions	102	(1)
Summary	102	(1)
Glossary	102	(1)
Appendices	103	(1)
Bibliography or Reference list	103	(1)
Publications	104	(1)
Successive draftings of the thesis	104	(1)
Final checklist	105	(4)
Submitting the thesis	109	(4)
Number of copies	109	(1)
Timing	110	(1)
Printing	110	(1)
Photocopying	110	(1)
Inserting illustrations	110	(1)
Binding	111	(1)
Submitting	111	(1)
The oral examination	111	(2)
Further reading	113	(2)
Appendix: Information for research students wishing to study overseas	115	(4)
Index	119