Web-based Learning Opportunities

Currently available modules are:

• Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Interactive Textbook (E-Source)
• Evidence-Based Behavioral Practice
• Team-Science.Net
• Genetic Training Course

Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Interactive Textbook

Under an OBSSR-contract The New England Research Institutes (NERI) has developed an interactive, online course on research methods and tools for researchers engaging in BSS research on health-related topics. To view this course, go to www.esourceresearch.org. The project aims to (1) demonstrate the potential of BSS research to enhance biomedical research, (2) serve as a resource center for the most current and high quality BSS research methods; (3) reveal how to easily and efficiently obtain authoritative answers to methodological questions, and (4) identify consistent and rigorous quality standards for the research community. Recognized international experts in their fields are developing the 16 modules for this web-based learning site:

1. Determining Appropriate Methods
   John B. McKinlay, PhD
2. The Concept of ‘Science’ in the Behavioral and Social Sciences
   Jeffrey Coulter, PhD
3. Theory Development and Construction
   Stephen Turner, PhD
4. Concepts in Sample Surveys
   Sarah M. Nusser, PhD and Michael D. Larsen, PhD
5. Do’s and Don’ts of interviewing
   Steve Woodland, PhD
6. Administrative Data Systems in Behavioral and Social Science Research on Health and Aging
   Vincent Mor, PhD
7. A Reporting Checklist for Observational Studies
   Richard Berk, PhD
8. Using Qualitative Methods to Study Health and Illness
   David Silverman, PhD
9. Conversation Analysis as an Approach to the Medical Encounter
   John Heritage, PhD
10. Integrating Software and Qualitative Analysis
    Eben Weitzman, PhD
11. Clinical Trials
    Duolao Wang, PhD and Ameet Bakhai, MD, MRCP
12. Cluster Unit Randomized Trials
    Allan Donner, PhD
13. Multi-level Modeling: A Conceptual and Methodological Overview
    S. V. Subramanian, PhD
14. Operationalizing, Measuring and Defining Psychosocial Variables
    Keith Widaman, PhD
15. Ensuring Conceptual Cultural and Equivalence
    Leo Morales, PhD
16. From Quality of Life to Patient-Reported Outcomes
    Donald L. Patrick, PhD and Gordon Guyatt, PhD

Evidence-Based Behavioral Practice

The Evidence-Based Behavioral Practice (EBBP) Project was commissioned by OBSSR in 2006. The project's goals are: (a) to develop a conceptual model that harmonizes the approach to evidence-based practice across health professions, and (b) to create and disseminate on-line resources that that help bridge the gap between behavioral research and practice.

The EBBP Project team is comprised of a multidisciplinary Council, Scientific Advisory Board, Clinical and Community Practitioner Advisory Councils (PRACs), and a panel of expert consultants. Led by Bonnie Spring, Ph.D. at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, USA, the EBBP Council includes representatives from medicine, nursing, psychology, public health, and social work.

The EBBP Project website contains links to many resources about evidence-based practice. In addition, the project has launched seven online learning modules that can be found at www.ebbp.org/training.html. All modules are freely available to learners and teachers. In addition, continuing education credits are available for psychologists, physicians, and nurses, and will be available shortly for social workers.

• The EBBP Process: Learn and conduct the steps of the evidence-based practice process with a simulated client and/or community.
• Searching for Evidence: Learn strategies for choosing and using information tools to find evidence.
• Introduction to Systematic Reviews: Learn how to evaluate and conduct a systematic review.
• Critical Appraisal: Learn to evaluate studies that use a variety of different research designs to determine whether an intervention works.
• Randomized Control Trials: Learn what randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are and the basics of how to design and conduct them.
• Shared Decision-Making with Individual Clients: Learn about the shared decision-making process as a practitioner working with individual clients in a simulated clinical setting. Make decisions that attempt to balance the best available evidence with client preferences and resources.
• Collaborative Decision-Making with Communities: Learn about the collaborative decision-making process as a public health practitioner working with communities. Make decisions that attempt to balance best available evidence with community preferences and resources while simulating the role of a program manager in a local health department.

TeamScience.net is an open suite of e-learning resources designed to foster learning and skill development in Team Science. Teamscience.net addresses a broad audience of researchers at multiple career stages, research development officers and administrators, and students and educators interested in conducting and/or facilitating team science, especially in biomedical and clinical sciences. The system enables learners to gain access to information relevant to forming, leading, and evaluating teams that realizes the benefits of a conversation with a human expert. These modules can be accessed free of charge at www.teamscience.net by simply registering at the site's portal.

TeamScience.net provides junior and senior faculty investigators and research development officers examples of real world scenarios unique to cross-disciplinary, team-based research. Four self-guided learning modules in all:

1. The "science of team science-SciTS" module introduces key concepts of team science by showcasing successful national multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary research programs, and introduces learners to empirical and theoretical research that provides evidence-based guidance about effective science teams through interviews with prominent team science experts and a presentation of their findings.
2. The Behavioral Team Science module takes learners through a series of simulations as a senior investigator applying for an interdisciplinary program project grant.
3. The Biomedical Team Science module takes learners through a series of simulations as a research development officer working with a senior investigator to develop a very large, transdisciplinary research center.
4. And the Clinical Team Science module takes learners through as series of simulations as an early career physician scientist developing a collaborative clinical trial proposal.

Health, technology, social, and environmental problems impacting our world are complex and researchers are increasingly able to address them through collaborative scientific and scholarly pursuit. This type of challenge necessitates multi/inter/transdisciplinary engagement and a high level of teamwork-an activity referred to as team science. Working in multi/inter/transdisciplinary teams increases the likelihood that researchers can integrate multiple and divergent perspectives and develop new insights and solutions. As the trend toward collaboration continues, effective practices and tools to support the efforts of researchers and institutions to initiate and nurture partnerships become increasingly important; TeamScience.net, is one of those tools.

TeamScience.Net is supported in part by: National Institutes of Health CTSA grant 3UL1RR025741, Multidisciplinary Clinical and Translational Science Program (PI: Philip Greenland) and National Library of Medicine contract N01-LM-6-3512 from the Office of Behavioral & Social Sciences Research, (PI: Bonnie Spring).