Problem-based learning in Research Methodology and Biostatistic Teaching Subject

A valid research is the backbone of advances in sciences, therefore it is important to learn Research Methodology and Biostatistic (RMB) in order to do a proper research, and it should be started as early as undergraduate students. Objectives: To increase the students' competence in conducting a proper research. Methods: The study was a field experiment on 98 pre-clinical students at Faculty of Dentistry, University of Indonesia, who were taking the RMB class in 2001 as the test group. Methods of teaching were modified by combining seminars, practice and small group discussion with a facilitator. Evaluation indicators were student progress, equity group outcomes, student satisfaction and employability were measured from final grades and by using a structured questionnaires. 35 teaching staff from 11 departments, who were active as students' dissertation supervisors, were also interviewed. Evaluation indicators from previous years (1997-2000) were also collected as baseline assessment (control groups). Statistic analysis was carried out using SPSS (ver.12) for univariat and bivariat analysis (ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test). Results: To this point of time, evaluation has been carried out for 3 indicators, which are student progress, equity group outcomes, and student satisfaction. There was significant different of the evaluation from baseline data. Number of students each year ranged from 91 - 102 students. The mean for final grades in year 1997-2001 were 59.8±13, 69.6±7.7, 64.14±7.7, 64.6±8.9 and 73.2±4.4 respectively, and they were significantly different (p<0.05). The proportion of students, who gained categorised grade as A or B, were 35.2%, 68.7%, 39.4%, 50% and 94.9% (p<0.01). The proportion of students who were satisfied with the modified teaching method was also increasing from 52% to 77%. Conclusion: There seems to be an improvement from the modified teaching method. However, upgrading the teaching method for RMB subject is still required to reach an optimum result.