MED112 Introduction to Scientific Methods I
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Medicine
Jasmin Šutković
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course aims to provide students with foundational knowledge of the scientific research process, including the formulation of research questions, literature review, study design, data collection methods, and research ethics. Through structured theoretical instruction, students will develop the skills necessary to critically evaluate scientific information and design methodologically sound and ethically responsible research projects.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
TBD
Additional Literature
TBDTeaching Methods
Lectures
Presentations
In class discussions
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Scientific Research | TBD |
| 2 | Observational studies – descriptive research and survey study | TBD |
| 3 | Research Questions and Formulating a hypothesis in clinical applications | TBD |
| 4 | Scientific ethics and Ethical violations | TBD |
| 5 | Basic biostatistics concepts and Statistical tests (Quiz 1) | TBD |
| 6 | Defining and presenting data | TBD |
| 7 | Article evaluation / critical appraisal | TBD |
| 8 | MIDTERM exam | Midterm |
| 9 | Preparing Academic email, a résumé (CV) and a motivation letter | TBD |
| 10 | Oral and poster presentation techniques | TBD |
| 11 | Types of scientific research and research design | TBD |
| 12 | Structure of research articles and article writing | TBD |
| 13 | Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical studies (Quiz 2) | TBD |
| 14 | Medical databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar) and Effective reading of scientific articles | TBD |
| 15 | Understanding plagiarism and academic integrity | TBD |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MED112.1 | Course | Wednesday 09:00 - 10:50 | A F1.11 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 12:00 | A F1.13 | Or any time via teams |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 11:00 | A F1.13 | Or any time via teams |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Assignment
AI: Consult InstructorAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 2 ECTS credit course corresponds to 50 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Theoretical Lecture
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Assignment
4 hours ⏳ (4 week × 1 h)
Midterm Exam
6 hours ⏳ (6 week × 1 h)
Final Exam
8 hours ⏳ (8 week × 1 h)
Quizes
4 hours ⏳ (2 week × 2 h)
50 Total Workload Hours
2 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [MED112] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| MED112 | Introduction to Scientific Methods I | 2 | 0 | 2 | Wednesday 9-11 | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Jasmin Šutković | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 9:00-12:00 Or any time via teams Thursday: 9:00-11:00 Or any time via teams |
|||||||
| jsutkovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course aims to provide students with foundational knowledge of the scientific research process, including the formulation of research questions, literature review, study design, data collection methods, and research ethics. Through structured theoretical instruction, students will develop the skills necessary to critically evaluate scientific information and design methodologically sound and ethically responsible research projects. | |||||||||
| Textbook | TBD | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures, presentations, in class discussions | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to Scientific Research | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Observational studies – descriptive research and survey study | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Research Questions and Formulating a hypothesis in clinical applications | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Scientific ethics and Ethical violations | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Basic biostatistics concepts and Statistical tests (Quiz 1) | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Defining and presenting data | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Article evaluation / critical appraisal | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM exam | Midterm | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Preparing Academic email, a résumé (CV) and a motivation letter | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Oral and poster presentation techniques | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Types of scientific research and research design | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Structure of research articles and article writing | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical studies (Quiz 2) | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Medical databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar) and Effective reading of scientific articles | TBD | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Understanding plagiarism and academic integrity | TBD | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3, | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 2 | 10 | 1,2,3,4, | Not Allowed | |
| Assignment | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Consult Instructor | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Theoretical Lecture | 2 | 14 | 28 | Assignment | 1 | 4 | 4 | |||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 6 | 6 | Final Exam | 1 | 8 | 8 | |||
| Quizes | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 50 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 2 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 23/03/2026 | |||||||||