WHAT MATTERS IN MENTORING? TESTING AND MEASURING A MENTOR TRAINING INTERVENTION

描述（由申请人提供）：尽管扩散的正式和非正式的研究指导举措，相对较少的是知道具体因素的指导关系，占学生成绩的积极影响。需要研究，以确定研究指导的因果机制，以开发，实施和评估创新的有效性，如研究导师培训干预措施，旨在推进科学追求的代表性不足的少数民族（URM）。拟议的研究通过以下三个具体目标来解决这一关键需求：具体目标#1。建立目前用于评估威斯康星州指导研讨会（WMS）的研究导师和学员调查的心理测量学特性，并建立其结构效度和可靠性的证据。方法：目标#1将使用项目和探索性因素分析来建立相关变量，并揭示研究指导关系的基本要素。具体目标#2。确定与学生成果相关的研究指导关系中的关键要素。方法：目标#2将使用分层多元回归和路径分析来完成，以测试理论上提出的研究指导元素和学生成果之间的关系。具体目标#3根据具体目标#2修改WMS，并测试这种适应性研究导师培训干预对学生成果的有效性。方法：目标#3将通过采用两组前测-后测设计来完成，以测试训练有素的研究导师和未经培训的研究导师对学生成绩的影响。将对数据进行重复测量方差分析。这项建议是创新的，因为它：采用准实验研究设计，提供受过训练的导师和未经训练的导师之间的比较;使用回顾性和前瞻性的纵向数据;并应用理论基础和方法论严谨的方法。这个项目是重要的，因为它将产生：1）心理测量的研究指导关系的合理措施，2）一个测试，理论为基础的研究导师培训干预，促进科学事业的URM学生，和3）立即翻译的结果为未来的方向适应研究导师培训工作。 公共卫生相关性：国家普通医学科学研究所优先考虑研究培训计划，以培养能够满足公众日益增长的健康需求的下一代科学家。拟议工作的目标是通过研究预测因素，相关因素和研究指导的结果以及旨在促进他们追求科学事业的研究导师培训干预措施，来促进传统上代表性不足的群体在生物学研究中的代表性。因此，研究结果最终有望推动解决疾病预防和医疗方面的健康差距所需的文化多样性劳动力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Despite the proliferation of formal and informal research mentoring initiatives, relatively little is known about specific factors in mentoring relationships that account for the positive effects on student outcomes. Studies are needed that identify causal mechanisms of research mentoring in order to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of innovations such as research mentor training interventions aimed at advancing the science pursuits of underrepresented minorities (URM). The proposed research addresses this critical need through the following three Specific Aims: Specific Aim #1. Establish the psychometric properties of the research mentor and mentee surveys currently in use to evaluate the Wisconsin Mentoring Seminar (WMS) and establish evidence for their construct validity and reliability. Approach: Aim #1 will be accomplished using item and exploratory factor analysis to establish correlated variables and reveal underlying elements of research mentoring relationships. Specific Aim #2. Identify critical elements in research mentoring relationships associated with student outcomes. Approach: Aim #2 will be accomplished using hierarchical multiple regression and path analysis to test theoretically-proposed relationships among research mentoring elements and student outcomes. Specific Aim #3. Modify the WMS in response to Specific Aim #2 and test the effectiveness of this adapted research mentor training intervention on student outcomes. Approach: Aim #3 will be accomplished by employing a two-group pretest- posttest design to test the impact of trained research mentors and untrained research mentors on student outcomes. A repeated measures analysis of variance will be performed on the data. This proposal is innovative because it: employs a quasi-experimental research design, providing comparison between trained mentors and untrained mentors; uses retrospective and prospective, longitudinal data; and applies theoretically-grounded and methodologically rigorous approaches. This project is significant because it will yield: 1) psychometrically sound measures of the research mentoring relationship, 2) a tested, theoretically-based research mentor training intervention that promotes science careers for URM students, and 3) immediate translation of findings into directions for future adaptation of research mentor training efforts. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The National Institute of General Medical Sciences prioritizes research training programs to produce the next generation of scientists who can meet the growing health needs for the public. The goal of the proposed work is to advance the representation of traditionally underrepresented groups in biological research by studying the predictors, correlates, and outcomes of research mentoring and a research mentor training intervention aimed at promoting their pursuit of science careers. Thus, the findings are ultimately expected to advance the culturally diverse workforce needed to address health disparities both in disease prevention and medical treatment.