1,720,985 research outputs found
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
The role of deliberate practice informed simulation training in developing expert performance in surgery and barriers to its implementation : a mixed methods study
Full text linkBackground The training of surgeons is undergoing a paradigm shift. Traditional apprenticeship models, rooted in time-based exposure and opportunistic learning, are increasingly viewed as insufficient for ensuring competence and expertise in a field where errors can have life-altering consequences. Deliberate Practice (DP), a pedagogical framework grounded in educational psychology, offers a compelling alternative by emphasising structured, feedback-driven, and goal-oriented practice. The application of DP principles in surgical education, however, particularly within simulation-based training, remains limited and poorly understood. Aim This study explores the role of DP in developing Expert Performance in surgery and investigates the barriers to its implementation in surgical training programs. Methods The first phase involved a systematic review of the literature assessing the extent to which Simulation-Based Surgical Training (SBST) interventions adhered to key DP principles—namely, learner motivation, structured task design, timely feedback, and repetition—and evaluating their outcomes. A scoring rubric was developed to assess DP adherence across studies. The mixed-methods phase included self-administered questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with surgical trainees and trainers to explore their perceptions of DP and identify practical, cultural, and systemic barriers to its implementation. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and integrated with quantitative findings to understand the current landscape comprehensively. Results The systematic reviews identified multiple papers on open and laparoscopic surgery, most of which reported positive outcomes associated with simulation-based interventions. Only a minority of studies, however, fully incorporated all core elements of DP. Interventions with higher DP adherence scores demonstrated more consistent improvements in skill acquisition, retention, and transferability. Most studies assessed outcomes at Kirkpatrick levels 1 and 2, with limited evidence of behavioural or patient-level impact. The qualitative phase involved self-administered questionnaires and 20 semi-structured interviews with surgical trainees and trainers. Thematic analysis revealed four major themes: (1) Value of Structured Practice, (2) Feedback and Faculty Engagement, (3) Institutional Constraints, and (4) Educational Culture. Trainees reported that while simulation was widely appreciated, access to structured, deliberate practice opportunities was inconsistent and often self-directed. Trainers expressed willingness to engage in DP-aligned instruction but cited lack of time, inadequate institutional recognition, and limited pedagogical training as key barriers. Both groups identified a misalignment between educational aspirations and clinical service demands. The lack of protected time for practice, the absence of standardised curricula incorporating DP principles, and insufficient assessment tools to measure progression were cited as systemic barriers to meaningful implementation. Despite these challenges, there was strong consensus on the transformative potential of DP when applied effectively within simulation-based surgical training environments. Qualitative findings also revealed widespread awareness of the benefits of structured, repetitive practice and expert feedback among both trainees and trainers. Barriers to DP implementation included a lack of protected time, limited faculty availability, underdeveloped curricula, and institutional emphasis on service delivery over education. Participants also highlighted the absence of clear performance benchmarks and insufficient training in feedback provision as additional obstacles. Conclusion DP offers a powerful model for optimising surgical education. While evidence supports its effectiveness in simulation-based contexts, current implementation is limited by structural and pedagogical barriers. This study highlights the need for a deliberate and theory-informed redesign of surgical training that prioritises competence, safety, and the pursuit of expert performance
The use of deliberate practice in simulation-based surgical training for laparoscopic surgery – a systematic review
No full textBackground: Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) has necessitated specialized training beyond traditional open surgical methods. Simulation-Based Surgical Training (SBST) offers a promising alternative, but its instructional design varies significantly. Deliberate Practice (DP), a concept originating from expertise research, may enhance SBST effectiveness. This systematic review evaluates the integration of DP within SBST for MIS. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, ERIC, and Google Scholar, covering publications up to January 31, 2024. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies implementing DP in SBST for laparoscopic surgery were included. Data extraction focused on DP elements (task design, feedback, and repetition), learner motivation, training structure, and outcome measures. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the RoB2 and ROBINS-E tools. Results: Ten studies met inclusion criteria, comprising five randomized controlled trials and five observational studies. Study participants were predominantly surgical trainees, with training programs utilizing box trainers or virtual reality simulators. DP-informed SBST was consistently associated with improved psychomotor skills, particularly when feedback was immediate, and training incorporated structured task progression. Task design varied, with only two studies tailoring training based on pre-existing skill levels. Stepwise task progression was reported in five studies. Feedback was delivered through either human mentors or automated simulator feedback, with mixed findings on their comparative effectiveness. While automated feedback ensured immediacy, human supervision was often deemed superior in guiding skill acquisition. Repetition was widely integrated, though session duration and spacing varied across studies. Learner motivation was explicitly assessed in one study, while two others incorporated motivation-enhancing interventions such as gamification and mentoring. DP-informed SBST resulted in improved accuracy, speed, confidence, and objective skill ratings. Some control groups also demonstrated skill improvements, though typically reaching performance plateaus earlier and at lower competency levels. Variability in DP adherence across studies influenced outcomes, with the most structured programs yielding the greatest benefits. Conclusions: DP-informed SBST is a promising approach for developing MIS skills. Adherence to DP principles significantly enhances skill acquisition but limited by resource requirements. Future research should focus on optimizing DP integration within SBST to maximize its impact on surgical education
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
The Use of Deliberate Practice in Simulation-Based Surgical Training for Open General and Subspeciality Surgery : A Systematic Review
Full text linkSimulation-based surgical training (SBST) provides a risk-free environment for surgical skill development. Integrating deliberate practice (DP) into SBST may enhance training effectiveness. This systematic review examines the application of DP elements in SBST for open general and subspecialty surgery, and their effectiveness in improving surgical skills. It aims to systematically synthesize the use of DP elements within SBST and evaluate effects on trainee performance. To preserve methodological comparability, this review focused on open procedures in general surgery and its subspecialties.The search identified 22 studies for inclusion, predominantly from North America and Europe. Most studies incorporated feedback and allowed repetition but commonly lacked structured assessments of learner motivation and individualized task design. Studies generally reported improvements in surgical skills after DP-informed SBST; however, the correlation between the number of DP elements used and learning outcomes was inconsistent. Kirkpatrick levels 1 and 2 evaluations were most common. The results suggest that DP-informed SBST improves skill acquisition in open surgery, although variations in DP implementation limit direct comparison across studies. Enhanced instructional design aligning closely with DP principles may bridge gaps in training quality, providing a structured pathway
koamabayili/VECTRON-author-checklist: VECTRON author checklist
No full textWe have done our best to complete the author checklist relating to the use of animals in the hut study. Note that the objective for the hut study was to evaluate the IRS treatment applications for residual efficacy against Anopheles mosquitoes, including the local An. coluzzii mosquito population. Cows were only used to attract mosquitoes into the huts and no tests were carried out directly on the cows. The author checklist is intended for use with studies where experiments are carried out on animals, which is why we have had such difficulty in completing this for the hut study, as many of the questions do not relate to how the cows were used
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