Chapter 11
As with the previous chapter, this chapter does not contain any content that falls directly within an AAMC content category. That said, the AAMC has confirmed that a full 10% of the science questions on every MCAT will touch on material in this chapter – and many of those questions will require only information from this chapter, without any other supportive science content. That makes it, point for point, one of the most important chapters in the entire MCAT Review series!
In the modern world, there are standard places to search for the answers to questions we have: encyclopedias, academic journals, online databases, and other publications. By perusing current research on a topic, we can figure out whether someone else has already asked and answered our question. This is just as true for scientists and other professionals. In many cases, our searches may take us in different directions. This may be as simple as finding additional resources that confirm the answers to our questions; however, research is often more complicated than that. We may find conflicting answers and have to perform critical analysis to determine which data set (and conclusion) was obtained in the most legitimate, unbiased way. Other times, we’ll have to find the answers on our own through experiment or observation and data analysis.
In order to generate a consistent body of knowledge, the ways in which scientists generate and search for information must be orderly and uniform. In this chapter, we will discuss the premise of basic science, biomedical, and social sciences research. Our examination will include the necessary criteria for causality, different types of error, and the ethical implications of human subjects research. These research methods are core skills that the MCAT tests—in fact, they constitute one of the four Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills on the exam. In addition, their importance will last for the rest of your medical career. As a physician, you will constantly be seeking answers in research to determine prognoses, assess the appropriateness of a treatment modality for a given patient, and answer patients’ questions. You may be a researcher yourself in a basic science, clinical, or translational setting. Regardless of your path, evaluating research is critical to the progress of all fields of medicine and will be a key component of your life as a physician.