Research Climate at the University of Zagreb School

Research Climate at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine Vedran Katavic, Ana Vujaklija, Daniela Salopek, Darko Hren University of Zagreb School of Medicine

Setting n 3 institutions: n n n 2 University of Zagreb Schools (Medicine, Dental Medicine) 1 research institute all in Zagreb, Croatia

Subjects junior members (highest achievement Ph. D. ) n response rate (so far): n n School of Medicine (M) – 24% (52/214) School of Dental Medicine (DM) – 33% (16/49) Research Institute (RI) – 32% (71/221)

Methods n Questionnaire: n modified questionnaire by Gaddis B et al, Accountability in Research. 2003; 10(4): 253 -88. n 2 parts n n n biodata – individual, group, organizational climate measurement Sent out by mail or hand delivered (both delivering & receiving)

Methods (continued) n n originally had 414 questions reduced to 231 MCQs: n n n 198 biodata (88 individual, 78 group, 32 organiz. ) 33 climate measures Likert-type scale: A-E (with some reverse scoring)

Methods (continued) n results organized into “constructs”: n n n 17 I, 18 G, 8 O 14 C lower score more positive experience/attitude

Preliminary results n Biodata measures n n individual group organizational Climate inventory

Biodata – Individual n 17 constructs: alienation, competitive pressure, negative peer groups, financial need, anomie, stress, incompetence, lack of situational control/resources, intrinsic work experience, negative professional role models, time frame rewards, negative/positive reward structure, consequences for failure, feedback specificity/ambiguity

Biodata – Individual Construct (min-max)* M DM alienation (7 -35) ~19 competitive pressure (7 -35) ~19 RI stress (5 -25) ~14 ~12 negative peer groups (7 -35) ~24 ~20 negative professional role-models (7 -35) ~20 feedback (8 -40) ~24 * lower = better for all constructs

Biodata – Group n 18 constructs: transformational leadership vision/individual consideration/intellectual stimulation, accountability, expertise of professor/group members, group trust, normlessness, conflict, unethical norms, competitive/production pressure, uncertainty, instability, pro-social norms, quality, process directiveness

Biodata – Group Construct (min-max)* M DM accountability (6 -30) ~17 leadership (4 -20) ~13 expertise of professor (4 -20) ~13 normlessness (6 -30) ~19 unethical norms (5 -25) ~12 group conflict (6 -30) ~16 RI

Biodata – Organizational n 8 constructs: turbulence, munificence, integration, accountability, continuity, solidarity, pressure, ethical expectations

Biodata – Organizational Construct (min-max)* M DM turbulence (4 -20) ~7 munificence (5 -25) ~15 solidarity (6 -30) ~19 competitiveness (5 -25) ~13 ethical expectations (5 -25) ~9 RI

Climate Inventory n 14 constructs: challenge/involvement, freedom, trust, idea time, humor, lack of conflict, idea support, debate, risk taking, social caring, procedural/distributive justice, law and cone emphasis, socio-emotional support

Climate Inventory Construct (min-max)* M DM challenge (3 -15) ~9 trust (3 -15) ~9 law & code emphasis (3 -15) ~11 challenge (3 -15) ~9 socio-emotional support (3 -15) ~10 RI

Conclusions n ongoing study n 1 st assessment of climate in Croatia n very low response rate

Conclusions continued unsatisfactory expertise of group members n young scientists do not appreciate team leaders n not getting adequate feedback n low observed unethical behavior n social improvement necessary n

Open questions size of questionnaire – response rate (RR) n delivery method of questionnaire – RR n disillusioned young scientists – RR n n limitation – cross-sectional study (NO causative conclusions)