Context

1. Context • BIO 2010 and other calls for reform in science education promote exposing students to primary literature and the process of science • Students in my allied health classes tend to: • Rely on surface learning and “information dump” of isolated facts • Perceive information as infallible and indelible • Rely on non-scientific sources for science and health information

2. Research Question • Does using primary literature improve scientific thinking in allied health majors? • Why is this interesting? • Most published studies on using primary literature focus on majors or introductory non-majors courses, not allied health majors • How do you measure scientific thinking?

3. Research design • Three assignments will be given that require students to analyze selected figures from primary research articles or the entire article • Scientific thinking outcomes measured will include: • Data analysis skills • Likelihood of using scientific sources rather than popular media for scientific information • Quality of questions asked

4. Research design Pre-test: Data analysis Pre-survey: Preferences for sources (similar to Russell et al, Adv. Phys. Ed. 2004) Week 1 Assignment 1 Analysis of questions asked Assignment 2 Analysis of questions asked Assignment 3 Analysis of questions asked Week 14 Post-test: Data analysis Post-survey Preferences for sources