MER Group

The Medical Education Research Group investigates key factors that shape learning, teaching, and assessment in medical education. Our research combines educational, psychological, and technological perspectives to better understand how future physicians learn and how medical training can be continuously improved through evidence-based innovation.

Our research employs a broad range of methodological approaches to address complex questions in medical education. These include longitudinal studies, online experiments, multicenter surveys, and randomized controlled trials, as well as other experimental designs. We also apply qualitative and mixed-methods approaches to gain deeper insights into learning processes and educational contexts. In addition, our work includes systematic and scoping literature reviews to synthesize existing evidence and identify future research directions. By combining diverse methodological perspectives, we aim to generate robust and meaningful contributions to the field of medical education research.

• Digitalization and Digital Competencies in Medical Education

A primary focus lies on the role of digital technologies. We investigate how new tools – particularly generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) – can support learning, teaching, and assessment in medical school. Additionally, we examine how digital competencies ("AI Literacy") can be effectively promoted and analyze attitudes toward AI (e.g., algorithm aversion).

• Motives, Personality, and Emotional Intelligence in Medical Training

Understanding the personal characteristics that influence learning and professional development is another key research area. Our group conducts longitudinal studies examining how medical students’ motives, personality traits, and emotional intelligence evolve throughout their training.

These projects aim to better understand the psychological and motivational foundations of learning in medical education and to identify factors that support students’ development as future physicians.

• Learning, Teaching, and Assessment Processes

Our research also focuses on the processes that shape learning outcomes in medical education. We investigate how teaching interventions, instructional formats, and individual learner characteristics influence academic performance and professional competence development.

In addition, we study different assessment formats and question types, examining their validity, reliability, and educational impact. Another important area of interest is knowledge retention, exploring how learning strategies, instructional design, and assessment practices affect the long-term retention of medical knowledge.

Our current publications can be found here: Publications

Supporting the development of early career researchers is a central objective of the Medical Education Research Group. We aim to create a collaborative and supportive research environment in which emerging scholars can develop their ideas, refine their methodological skills, and grow as independent researchers in the field of medical education.

A key principle of our approach to early career support is to encourage intellectual independence and responsibility. Rather than prescribing research directions, the MER Group aims to provide the resources, feedback, and collaborative environment that allow early career researchers to develop and pursue their own ideas with confidence.