Training Future Scientists Through Critical Review of Research: Methods and Findings of a Five-Year Pilot Program

Abstract

The critical review process is an essential element of higher education in the sciences. In the professional world, this translates to a peer review system that serves as one of the pillars of research integrity. We have designed and executed a pilot educational program that engages science students in a tiered critical review process of peer research. Herein, we present the methods and early findings of a five-year pilot program involving over 1,000 undergraduates. Positive outcomes are manifest in increased scientific literacy, increased retention in higher education and increased persistence in STEM disciplines.