J Med Libr Assoc. 2024 Oct 1;112(4):307-323. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2024.1915. Epub 2024 Oct 7.
The article reports on an assessment of the effectiveness of the MLA Research Training Institute (RTI) for the years 2018 and 2019. The RTI is a year-long continuing education research methods training and support program for health sciences librarians. The study focuses on assessing RTI participants' research confidence after program completion and compares these results with their perceptions of workshop/program performance and learning outcomes. In addition, the authors discuss how the findings were applied to inform and improve the program.
The study used a 26-item questionnaire, RTI Research Confidence Questionnaire, to gather information on participants' self-reported research confidence before the workshop, immediately after the workshop, and one year after the workshop to determine statistically significant differences. Differences in research confidence were identified by using three nonparametric statistical tests. Additional workshop and program surveys were used to corroborate the research confidence findings.
Post-workshop and one-year-after-workshop research confidence ratings were significantly higher than pre-workshop levels for years 1 and 2. A comparison of median ratings between years 1 and 2 showed significant increases in research confidence for nine items in year 2. Participants' positive perceptions of workshop/program effectiveness and learning outcomes corroborated these findings.
Overall assessment findings indicated that RTI training helped participants understand, use, and apply research skills to conduct research. Findings also revealed that participants' heightened research confidence persisted at least 12 months postintervention. The RTI Research Confidence Questionnaire proved effective for rigorously assessing and improving the RTI program. This study enhances the currently limited evidence on evidence-based approaches for assessing and improving research instruction for librarians.
本文评估了 MLA 研究培训学院（RTI）在 2018 年和 2019 年的效果。RTI 是一项为期一年的针对健康科学图书馆员的继续教育研究方法培训和支持计划。本研究重点评估 RTI 参与者在项目完成后的研究信心，并将这些结果与他们对研讨会/项目绩效和学习成果的看法进行比较。此外，作者还讨论了如何将研究结果应用于通知和改进该计划。
该研究使用了一份包含 26 个问题的问卷，即 RTI 研究信心问卷，以收集参与者在研讨会之前、研讨会之后和研讨会一年后自我报告的研究信心信息，以确定统计上的显著差异。通过使用三种非参数统计检验来确定研究信心的差异。还使用了额外的研讨会和计划调查来证实研究信心的发现。
第 1 年和第 2 年的研讨会后和研讨会一年后的研究信心评分明显高于研讨会前的水平。第 1 年和第 2 年的中位数评分比较显示，第 2 年的 9 项研究信心评分显著增加。参与者对研讨会/计划有效性和学习成果的积极看法证实了这些发现。
总体评估结果表明，RTI 培训有助于参与者理解、使用和应用研究技能进行研究。研究结果还表明，参与者的研究信心在干预后至少 12 个月内保持不变。RTI 研究信心问卷在严格评估和改进 RTI 计划方面非常有效。本研究增强了目前关于评估和改进图书馆员研究指导的循证方法的有限证据。
