Note: The knowledge and skills described in this unit may be developed before or during clinical training in thoracic surgery. The unit does not presuppose an interruption of clinical training. These skills may be strengthened and augmented by laboratory training, courses, and formal education in clinical or laboratory research.

Unit Objective:

At the end of this unit the resident understands the application of the scientific method to thoracic surgery, is able to describe problems in research terms and to design a scientific approach to the solution of an unsolved problem in thoracic surgery. The resident becomes facile in the interpretation and critical evaluation of the thoracic surgery literature.

Learner Objectives:

Upon completion of this unit the resident:

1. Understands the scientific method as it applies to basic and clinical research;
   
   
2. Knows how to access the literature including computerized and conventional library searches;
   
   
3. Is able to interpret published material critically;
   
   
4. Understands the role of statistics in validating scientific inferences, including the appropriate application of statistical tests commonly used in the thoracic literature, their limitations and deficiencies;
   
   
5. Understands the role of power, significance, and sample size in interpreting data;
   
   
6. Knows how to develop and design a research proposal and complete the process of solving a problem scientifically.