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

描述(由申请人提供)：尽管正式和非正式的研究指导倡议激增，但对指导关系中对学生结果产生积极影响的具体因素知之甚少。需要进行研究，以确定研究指导的因果机制，以便开发、实施和评估旨在促进代表不足的少数群体(URM)的科学追求的研究指导培训干预等创新的有效性。建议的研究通过以下三个具体目标满足了这一关键需求：具体目标1.建立研究导师和被辅导者调查的心理测量学特性，以评估威斯康星州辅导研讨会(WMS)，并为其结构效度和可靠性建立证据。方法：目标1将通过项目和探索性因素分析来实现，以建立相关变量并揭示研究指导关系的基本要素。明确目标2.确定研究指导关系中与学生成绩相关的关键要素。方法：目标2将使用分层多元回归和路径分析来实现，以检验理论上提出的研究、指导要素和学生结果之间的关系。具体目标#3.根据具体目标#2修改WMS，并测试这种经过调整的研究导师培训干预措施对学生结果的有效性。方法：目标3将通过采用两组前测-后测设计来实现，以测试受过培训的研究导师和未受过培训的研究导师对学生结果的影响。将对数据进行重复测量的方差分析。这一建议是创新的，因为它采用准实验研究设计，提供训练有素的导师和未经培训的导师之间的比较；使用回顾和预期的纵向数据；采用有理论基础和方法严格的方法。这个项目意义重大，因为它将产生：1)研究指导关系的心理测量学指标，2)经过测试的、基于理论的研究指导培训干预措施，以促进URM学生的科学职业生涯，以及3)立即将研究结果转化为未来研究指导培训工作的方向。 公共卫生相关性：国家普通医学科学研究所将研究培训计划列为优先事项，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研究指导和旨在促进他们追求科学事业的研究指导和研究导师培训干预的预测因素、相关性和结果，促进传统上代表性不足的群体在生物研究中的代表性。因此，这些发现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的劳动力队伍。

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.