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成果产生积极影响的具体因素知之甚少。需要研究确定研究指导的因果机制，以便制定、实施和评估创新的有效性，例如旨在促进代表性不足的少数群体（URM）的科学追求的研究导师培训干预措施。拟议的研究通过以下三个具体目标来解决这一关键需求：建立目前用于评估威斯康星师徒研讨会（WMS）的研究导师和学员调查的心理测量特性，并为其结构效度和信度建立证据。方法：目标1将使用项目和探索性因子分析来建立相关变量并揭示研究师徒关系的潜在因素。具体目标2。确定研究指导关系中与学生成果相关的关键因素。方法：目标#2将使用层次多元回归和路径分析来测试理论提出的研究指导元素与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绩的有效性。方法：目标#3将通过采用两组前测-后测设计来测试训练过的研究导师和未训练过的研究导师对学生成果的影响。将对数据进行重复测量方差分析。本文的创新之处在于：采用准实验研究设计，对受过培训的导师和未受过培训的导师进行比较；采用回顾性和前瞻性纵向数据；并应用理论基础和方法严谨的方法。该项目意义重大，因为它将产生：1)研究师徒关系的心理测量方法，2)一个经过测试的，基于理论的研究导师培训干预措施，促进URM学生的科学事业，以及3)将研究结果立即转化为未来适应研究导师培训工作的方向。

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.