Rigor, Reproducibility and Responsibility in Scientific Practice, Certificate

Program Overview

The Rigor, Reproducibility, and Responsibility certificate program provides advanced training in epistemology, logic, ethics, quantitative reasoning, and communication skills. It emphasizes the core norms of good scientific practice, enabling participants to critically analyze research, understand the philosophical underpinnings of science, and apply evidence-based strategies in their own research and communication.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Rigor, Reproducibility and Responsibility certificate program emphasizes research practice and applicable, introductory graduate-level training in epistemology, logic, and ethics, as well as quantitative and communication skills. The program specifically addresses the “3R” core norms of good scientific practice, applied across the health and science disciplines, which include fundamental and trans-disciplinary application skills in:

• Rigor: Critical thinking and objectivity in scientific conduct
• Reproducibility: Appropriate, quantitative research methodology
• Responsibility: Scientists' responsibility toward the research community and society
The program focuses on the philosophical underpinnings that form the fundamental framework of how science works, allowing participants to understand the principles underlying good scientific practice research from bench science to public health disciplines.

Educational Objectives:

Upon completion of the certificate program, students will be able to:

• Analyze research strategies, techniques, and data in light of the norms of good scientific practice.
• Formulate constructive critique of the research presented in the interdisciplinary primary literature.
• Explain the basics of hypothesis testing, data analysis, and visualization in science.
• Apply fundamental logic and ethics considerations to observational and experimental approaches to study current problems in science and society.
• Differentiate how causality is established among the scientific disciplines.
• Appraise how limitations of causal inference can be mitigated in research and practice.
• Describe the sources of error in scientific practice as well as approaches for error reduction.
• Evaluate the impact of errors in discovery and innovation.
• Apply evidence-based strategies to craft clear and concise, written communications.
• Employ rhetoric and storytelling to strengthen the communication’s impact.
• Recognize the critical role of scientists in society.

Outline:

Required Courses (12 credits):

• PH.260.700 How Do We Know?
• Theory, History, and Practice of Science: Typically offered online in the 1st term and hybrid in the 3rd term.
• PH.260.701 Anatomy of Scientific Error, Anatomy of Scientific Error - Meta-Science in Research Practice: Typically offered online in the 2nd and hybrid in the 4th term.
• PH.260.705 Fundamentals of Quantitative Reasoning in the Biomedical and Health Sciences: Typically offered online in the 3rd term.
• PH.260.844 Causation: Typically offered hybrid in both the 2nd and 4th term.

Elective Courses (6 or more credits):

• PH.260.704 Critical Dissection of the Scientific Literature: Taking the Scalpel to Journal Articles: Typically offered online in the 1st term and onsite in the 3rd term.
• PH.260.709 Evidence-Based Mentoring:
• PH.260.710 Communication Practice for Health Science Professionals: Typically offered online in the 2nd and 4th terms.
• PH.260.715 Unleash Your Writing Superpower: Crafting Clear, Concise and Persuasive Prose: Typically offered online in the 2nd term.

Capstone Paper:

All students are required to complete a capstone paper. The subject of the capstone must be approved in advance by the Certificate program director. Students may request permission to submit as their capstone a paper completed for one of the certificate courses, or, if desired, students may opt to complete PH.260.840 and to complete the capstone paper during this course.

• PH.260.840 SS/R: Mol Microbiology & Imm: Typically offered online in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and Summer terms.

Other:

• Sponsoring Department: Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
• Requirements for Successful Completion: The certificate program requires a minimum of 18 term credits.
All required and elective courses must be taken for a letter grade if a letter grade is an option. Students must earn a minimum letter grade of C in each certificate course and maintain a GPA of 2.75 or higher for the certificate courses. All courses must be completed within a three-year period.
• Course Directory: Students should check the Bloomberg School of Public Health course directory to confirm when the courses are offered.
The term and time may change from what is listed in the table below, and some courses are only offered every other year. Students should also check for prerequisites and whether instructor consent is required.
• Online Noncredit Course: All students are required to complete PH.550.860 Academic & Research Ethics at BSPH (online noncredit course) in their first term of study.