ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyze the research trends in articles published in the Korean Journal of Medical Education (KJME) and Korean Medical Education Review (KMER) using keyword network analysis. The analyses included 507 papers from 2010 to 2019 published in KJME and KMER. First, keyword frequency analysis showed that the research topics that appeared in both journals were “medical student,” “curriculum,” “clinical clerkship,” and “undergraduate medical education.” Second, centrality analysis of a network map of the keywords identified “curriculum” and “medical student” as highly important research topics in both journals. Third, a cluster analysis of 20 core keywords in KMER identified research clusters related to academic motivation, achievement, educational measurement, medical competence, and clinical practice (centered on “learning,” while in KJME, clusters were related to educational method and program evaluation, medical competence, and clinical practice (centered on “teaching”). In conclusion, future medical education research needs to expand to encompass other research areas, such as educational methods, student evaluations, the educational environment, student counseling, and curriculum.
ABSTRACT
This study explored medical students' major research topics and research methods by analyzing 184 academic articles pertaining to the characteristics of medical students from 2007 to 2017. Results showed many papers dealing with medical students' emotional and cognitive aspects, student counseling, clinical practice education, and curriculum management. According to the medical education accreditation board, research trends were found mostly in the student and curriculum areas of learner characteristics, medical humanities, student counseling, clinical practice education, and curriculum management. Common research topics have been steadily increasing since the introduction of the evaluation accreditation standard in 2012. Medical students predominantly used quantitative research methods for the studies. In the future, it is necessary to ensure that research topics such as CQI, digital- and performance-based clinical practice, and convergent curriculum within the Fourth Industrial Revolution are being studied. In addition, it is crucial to investigate learners' unique, dynamic, and qualitative characteristics through qualitative and mixed methods.