Gaps and Opportunities in Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research Training: A Survey of Faculty,Administrator,and Student Experiences in Higher Education Across the Mountain West of the U.S.

Abstract

Training in responsible and ethical conduct of research (RECR) is essential for fostering a strong research culture. We surveyed faculty, students, and research staff at R1/R2 and primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) to assess practices in mentoring, administrative support, grant writing, and project management. While many institutions provide formal education in research ethics and grant writing, major gaps persist in mentoring, grant implementation, and project management. R1/R2 faculty reported the greatest institutional support, yet disparities remain across research integrity areas, including human and animal subject protocols. Students were generally satisfied with training but showed limited awareness of RECR foundations, such as data lifecycle management and export compliance. Findings underscore the need for more consistent, comprehensive research training—especially at PUIs.