Desires versus reality of medical and health science summer student research opportunities

Background: Medical and health science students are increasingly becoming involved in research throughout their undergraduate education. However, the quality of student research outcomes has recently come into question. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of Irish medical and health science student who received a summer student research grant in 2014 and 2015. Results: Of 56 respondents (40.6% response rate), increasing competitiveness for future career opportunities was the highest rated motivational factor for pursuing research. Respondents were most often involved in analysing data (n = 51; 91.1%) and collecting data (n = 46; 82.1%). Respondents most often identified that they would have liked to be involved in coming up with research question (n = 34; 60.7%), while in reality, they were least commonly involved in that aspect (n = 14; 25.0%). Conclusion: Despite the desire by summer research students to be involved in early components of research project design, this only occasionally occurs. Summer student research programs should explore the possibility of early involvement of students in the research design phase.