The Evolving Field of Medical Education Research

Educational research is a unique field of study, in that it must be multi-disciplinary to be successful. At the same time it is susceptible to many of the same insular tendencies that impact upon and limit individual disciplines. The scope of research is broad with frequently debated objectives and the definitions of "good" and "rigorous" research are as diverse as the employed methodologies and theoretical frameworks. The vast number of variables impacting upon human behavior, affecting one's ability to accurately predict an educational outcome, provides another example of the challenges inherent in such work. These issues create a number of difficulties that one must overcome, but they also create an exceptionally rich field in which to work, nudging individuals beyond the boundaries of their primary disciplines and into innovative collaborations and new perspectives. In this article, we present elements from the ongoing evolution of the field of medical education research in the hope of promoting ongoing discussions between those working in that field and those working in the molecular life sciences through which both fields may continue to grow and learn. © 2010 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.