Motivating medical students to do research: a mixed methods study using Self-Determination Theory

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Research Motivation
• Student Research

Background:

• Medical graduates require research understanding for academic careers.
• Understanding factors motivating/demotivating medical students in research is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and explain the motivators and demotivators for medical students undertaking research.
• To develop a model for factors influencing medical students' research motivation.

Main Methods:

• Convergent parallel mixed methods study utilizing quantitative surveys (n=579) and qualitative interviews (n=23).
• Self-Determination Theory (SDT) framework informed data analysis and model development.
• Integration of quantitative and qualitative findings to analyze research motivation in relation to learning activities.

Main Results:

• Students with clinical exposure and supported, team-based research showed more positive views on future research.
• Key motivational themes identified through SDT domains: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
• Motivation is linked to intrinsic factors, particularly competence (confidence) and relatedness (clinical relevance, social aspects of research).

Conclusions:

• Self-Determination Theory effectively explains individual motivation and curriculum design for optimizing research engagement.
• Well-supported, compulsory research activities incorporating group work and choice can foster research motivation.
• These strategies may encourage research careers, even among students with no prior research experience.