START Competition‌

Staff Lead(s):

Sandra Galvin, Programme Manager HRB-TMRN and START Co-Founder

Purpose:

The Health Research Board – Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN) celebrates ICTD with the help of the younger members of our community. START – “Schools teaching awareness of randomised trials” – is a national competition which challenges 4th, 5th & 6th primary school classes to lead on an exciting project and create their very own simulated randomised controlled trial.

How does START work?:

Teachers and students are asked to identify a suitable research question they can answer scientifically using the information provided on the website (www.STARTcompetition.com). The purpose of this competition is to help students become aware of the randomised trial process, rather than answering a ground breaking question. The students can pick a simple, easy to answer question, but must use the proper steps of a clinical trial to answer it.

The best part is that students can report their findings in any way they like, podcast, video, collage or poster, report.

Some examples of what questions have students selected so far?

• Do children concentrate more or less when they use coloured pens?

• Can you change the psychological behaviour of students through the use of visual aids?

• Can interactive spelling games improve spelling?

• Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?

• Does listening to music improve memory recall?

• Does reading aloud in class impact on the ability to retain information compared to silent reading?

• Does completing an exercise program have an effect on mood / concentration / sleep patterns?

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