Creating a Supportive Educational Research Culture at a Dental School by Identifying Obstacles and Solutions

Area of Science:

• Dental Education Research
• Faculty Development
• Scholarship in Higher Education

Background:

• Educational research is crucial for advancing dental education.
• Faculty engagement in educational research can be limited by various factors.
• Understanding faculty needs is essential for effective support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the extent of educational research at a U.S. dental school.
• To assess faculty needs and barriers to conducting educational research.
• To inform the development of targeted support initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to all full-time faculty at a U.S. dental school in January 2014.
• The survey assessed current research involvement, time allocation, training, and perceived needs.
• Statistical analyses were used to compare groups and identify significant factors.

Main Results:

• 60% of faculty reported being expected to engage in scholarship, but 51% had limited time (half-day or less).
• 68% lacked research training, and 53% had never conducted educational research, citing "do not know how" and "not required" as primary barriers.
• Faculty identified statistical analysis help, collaborators, research design support, time, funding, and travel as key needs.

Conclusions:

• A significant portion of dental faculty face barriers to conducting educational research, including insufficient training and time.
• Targeted support, such as small grants and training opportunities, can stimulate educational research and scholarly activity.
• The implementation of a small-grant program led to the initiation of 11 projects focused on scholarship and learning improvement.