Using “Research Boxes” to Enhance Understanding of Primary Literature and the Process of Science

• Main Authors: Jeffrey S. Carmichael, Lizabeth A. Allison
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Society for Microbiology 2019-09-01
• Series: Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
• Subjects: research box; primary literature; collaborative learning; active learning; scientific method
• Online Access: http://jmbesubmissions.asm.org/index.php/jmbe/article/view/1743
• ISSN: 1935-7877; 1935-7885

Helping undergraduate students engage with primary literature and understand the process of science are high-priority skills in most life science courses.  Collaborative learning activities that enhance these skills will continue to be in high demand by instructors at all levels.  Here we present a “Research Box” learning activity that helps students engage with primary research articles in a guided and collaborative fashion.  Students summarize key components of an empirical study in a one-page figure.  An assessment rubric is also included that can be easily modified by instructors to meet their specific needs.  Assessment data from two institutions reveal that students value this activity and report that it increases their confidence at understanding primary research articles and experimental results.  The Research Box activity is easy to implement, can be completed in a single class period, and provides instructors with a well-defined way to assess student comprehension of experimental design and data interpretation.