Office of Educational Research & Program for Assessment
About Our Work
The goal of the Office of Educational Research (OER) is to assist investigators in developing high quality research projects designed to address compelling questions.
OER provides education and training services to faculty and staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), conducting medical education research to guide them through the research process by helping medical education researchers understand how to:
- Determine whether the project proposed constitutes a research study, or routine evaluation and assessment
- Develop a research idea or interest into a testable question
- Explore relevant literature
- Formulate hypotheses
- Select and describe a study design
- Define and describe methodological details, including measurement and data collection
- Conduct basic data analyses, and seek appropriate assistance with more complex analyses
- Identify and address issues around feasibility of conducting the research
- Identify and address regulatory requirements for conducting human subject research
A well designed research study is critical to ensuring that results will have valid and measurable impact and be generalizable. By contrast, projects that seek to address learner assessment (for example, knowledge, skills, attitudes), curriculum development or assessment, or program evaluation for the purposes of evaluating and/or improving current practices are likely to require assistance from the Office of Educational Assessment.
Program for Assessment
The function of the Program for Assessment is to provide consultation to faculty and trainees in educational measurement.
The program headed by Grace Huang, MD, Director of Assessment. It works in concert with the Office of Educational Research (OER) and collaborates with the Center for Education at BIDMC.
Examples of questions with which the Program for Assessment can assist:
- Which assessment method should I choose to measure a particular skill?
- How do I design a survey?
- How do I demonstrate reliability and validity in my instrument?
- I need some help with basic quantitative data analysis.
- I have designed an educational research project. How should I collect data?
Meet the Leadership Team
The Office of Educational Research leadership team supports faculty and trainees by enhancing education, training, and consultation services for research and assessment.
