The Professionalism and Integrity in Research Program: Description and Preliminary Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Research ethics
• Scientific integrity
• Regulatory compliance

Background:

• Research violations pose risks to participants, data, and institutions.
• Existing training may not address root causes of non-compliance.
• Complex regulatory environments necessitate robust researcher skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Professionalism and Integrity in Research Program (PI Program).
• To assess the program's impact on researcher decision-making and professional behaviors.

Main Methods:

• The PI Program involved assessments, a three-day workshop, and coaching calls.
• Pre- and post-workshop assessments used validated measures of decision-making and cognitive distortions.
• Follow-up surveys collected data on target behaviors and job stressors.

Main Results:

• Participant evaluations of faculty and content were highly positive (4.5-4.8/5).
• Significant improvements were observed in professional decision-making and reduced cognitive distortions.
• Statistically significant increases in target behaviors, including staff training, SOP use, self-audits, and stress reduction, were reported.

Conclusions:

• The PI Program demonstrates statistically significant effectiveness in improving researcher professionalism and integrity.
• The training addresses root causes of violations, fostering better oversight and compliance.
• Despite modest sample sizes, data indicate the program achieves its goals.