A Vignette-based Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Impact of Supervisor's Role on Research Practices of Doctoral Students

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to evaluate the influence of supervisors on PhD students' research practice (i.e., an environment where there is a lack of opposition to detrimental research practice from the supervisor)

Detailed Description
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PhD students are the next generation of researchers and will present the field in the future. However, several environmental factors might influence their research practice. In this study, we will evaluate the influence of supervisors on PhD students' research practice (an environment where there is a lack of opposition to detrimental research practice from the supervisor). Objective: To evaluate the influence of supervisors on PhD students' research practice Design: A randomized controlled trial Intervention: Participants will be shown two case vignettes describing dilemma situations in research reported with and without the role of the supervisor. Participants: The participants will be PhD students in all biomedical disciplines. Sample size will be 300 participants Primary outcome: In each vignette, participants will have to indicate which solution they prefer on a semantic differential scale, rated from - 5 to -1 (preference for solution A) and from 1 to 5 (preference for solution B). Participants will be forced to make a choice between the 2 solutions. The primary outcome will be the mean preference score. This study is approved by ethics review regulations by INSERM (CEEI-IRB): IRB00003888

Official Title
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A Vignette-based Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Impact of Supervisor's Role on Research Practices of Doctoral Students Facing Dilemma Situations

Conditions
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The Study Focus on no Specific Condition

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Vignette with emphasis on supervisor's opinion


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: PhD students in biomedical sciences Exclusion Criteria: NA

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Vignette with supervisor's opinion<br>Participants in this arm will receive vignettes with an additional sentence describing supervisor's opinion (i.e. supervisor does not oppose to detrimental research practice) | Other: Vignette with emphasis on supervisor's opinion<br>* A vignette describing a dilemma situation for a researcher (e.g. adding an honorary author) with or without the description of supervisor's advice that does not oppose to detrimental research practice (i.e. the supervisor is fine with whatever the PhD student decides in the dilemma).<br>|
| Active Comparator: Vignette without supervisor's opinion<br>Participants in this arm will receive vignettes without an additional sentence describing supervisor's opinion. | Other: Vignette with emphasis on supervisor's opinion<br>* A vignette describing a dilemma situation for a researcher (e.g. adding an honorary author) with or without the description of supervisor's advice that does not oppose to detrimental research practice (i.e. the supervisor is fine with whatever the PhD student decides in the dilemma).<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mean preference score | In each vignette, we will ask participants, what would you do if you are in the place of the character in the vignette? Participants will have to indicate which solution they prefer on a semantic differential scale, rated from - 5 to -1 (preference for solution A) and from 1 to 5 (preference for solution B). We will calculate the mean preference score | Immediate assessment | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Proportion of students who chose the detrimental research practice | Proportion of students who made choices rated from -5 to -1 | Immediate assessment |