Expectancy-Value-Cost motivational theory to explore final year medical students' research intentions and past research experience: a multicentre cross-sectional questionnaire study

ObjectivesConducting research during medical school is a commonly described way to strengthen the physician-scientists workforce. The aim of this study is to compare the strength of association of Expectancy, Value and Cost regarding a research activity with future research intentions, and to explore differences between students with or without research experience during medical school. Design, setting and participantsAn online questionnaire was sent to final-year medical students - who had already chosen their specialty - in three French-speaking Belgian universities with non-mandatory research programmes. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and multiple regression analysis were conducted. Main measuresResearch intention (outcome measure) was assessed using a 3-item scale. The motivational beliefs were assessed using a 10-item scale adapted from a validated scale based on the Expectancy-Value- Cost theory. Responses were recorded on a 6-point Likert scale. ResultsParticipation rate was 28% (n=237). EFA revealed 4 factors with high internal consistency. 21.5% of students had positive research intentions (score 5 or above). Our model explained 82.8% of research intention variance (p < 0.001), of which three motivational beliefs had statistically significant coefficients: i) Value given to a research activity ({beta} = 0.72, p < 0.001); ii) perceived Cost of a research activity ({beta} = -0.11, p < 0.01); iii) Expectancy of success ({beta} = 0.10, p < 0.05). Students with a positive research experience or students without research experience but who had strongly considered achieving one were 11.5 times more likely (95% CI, 5.0 - 26.2) to have positive research intentions at the end of medical school than other students. ConclusionsValue given to a research activity is the key factor regarding students motivation to undertake research. Our study confirms the positive relationship between non-mandatory research and future research intentions, although some students without a research experience showed high motivation as well.