America COMPETES at 5 years: An Analysis of Research-Intensive Universities' RCR Training Plans

Area of Science:

• Research ethics education
• Scientific integrity training

Background:

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) mandated education in the responsible conduct of research (RCR).
• University RCR training plans were developed in response to this policy.
• Assessing the effectiveness of these RCR educational experiences is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the NSF's RCR education policy.
• To determine if university RCR instructional plans align with established best practices.
• To identify shortcomings in RCR training provided to NSF-funded trainees.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 108 RCR training plans from U.S. institutions with "very high research activity".
• Comparison of publicly available plans against consensus RCR education best practices.
• Examination of content, requirements, and delivery methods across institutions.

Main Results:

• Fewer than half of universities incorporated best practices into their RCR plans.
• Minimal differentiation in content by career stage (31%) or discipline (1%).
• Limited face-to-face engagement (18%); many plans met by online modules (82%).

Conclusions:

• The NSF's RCR policy lacks specific guidelines and accountability, leading to inadequate training.
• Vague policy and lack of oversight result in superficial RCR education for trainees.
• Current RCR training does not consistently provide meaningful educational experiences.