In this Newsletter*
- A Letter from the P.I. Program Director
- Register for free January 18 Webinar
- Next P.I. Program Workshop Scheduled for May 22-24, 2018
A Letter from the Director
During our recent webinar about the P.I. Program, an attendee asked a great question: “The P.I. Program has positive outcomes, but how do you know that the program participants would not have improved their behavior anyway, simply because they were investigated?”
Our program faculty have identified three groups that participants tend to fall into, albeit very unevenly:
- Those who arrive at the workshop with insight into past weaknesses. Since being investigated, these individuals have often already made some positive changes to how they run their research programs.
- Those who arrive at the workshop reluctant to acknowledge a need for change, but who are amenable to change. These individuals are initially apprehensive to participate in the program, but quickly realize the benefits of making changes.
- Those who arrive at the workshop reluctant to acknowledge a need for change, and leave without significant new insight or plans for major changes. These individuals sometimes are still focused on efforts to “clear their name,” and may still be engaged in legal proceedings. (This group is quite small, probably less than 10%.)
Individuals in all three groups can benefit from the P.I. Program, though in different ways. Individuals in the first group are highly motivated to change and they seek effective solutions. We help them explore and adopt concrete, evidence-informed approaches to running their research programs. We also teach strategies for making good decisions in challenging situations.
Individuals in the second group are often the greatest success stories: They leave with new attitudes and energy—focused less on who is to blame for past missteps and more on how to improve the quality, efficiency, and integrity of their research.
Individuals in the third group may seem like individuals whom the program fails. But these cases are rather complex. On the one hand, we do not claim a 100% success rate. Behavior is influenced by many factors, all of which cannot be effectively addressed by a relatively short-term program.
On the other hand, to complete the program, participants must satisfy a robust set of requirements. These requirements include writing a professional development plan (PDP), and completing a series of follow-up coaching calls (in addition to active participation in the workshop).
In some cases we have required significant revisions to a PDP and additional coaching calls before issuing a completion report. We endeavor to help the participant achieve change and expect, in some cases, positive change occurs long after the workshop has ended.
Overall, our program exists to empower individuals to do high quality research with integrity. To that aim, we provide instruction on the advantages of specific practices and problem-solving strategies. While we cannot force people to adopt these strategies, our program data indicate that most participants do in fact make many positive changes.
James DuBois, DSc, PhD
P.I. Program Director
Read our article published in Academic Medicine to learn more about the P.I. Program outcomes: The Professionalism and Integrity in Research Program: Description and Preliminary Outcomes.
Register for Upcoming Webinar – January 18, 2018
James DuBois, P.I. Program Director, will host a free webinar on January 18, 2018, 1:00pm-2:00pm CST. The webinar information is geared toward Deans and Department Chairs, but anyone hoping to learn more about the program is welcome.
An opportunity for questions and answers will follow the presentation.
Register for Webinar
Next P.I. Program Workshop Scheduled for May 22-24, 2018
If you are thinking of making a referral, contact Program Manager Cynthia McKenna, at integrity@wustl.edu or 314-747-4220 for additional information.
For more information
P.I. Program
4523 Clayton Avenue, Campus Box 8005
St. Louis MO 63110-1093
314-747-4220
integrity@wustl.edu | integrityprogram.org