Journal article
A pilot study on our non-traditional, varied writing accountability group for historically excluded and underrepresented persons in STEMM
Heliyon, Vol.9(12), e22335
12/01/2023
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22335
PMCID: PMC10746396
PMID: 38144282
Abstract
Underrepresented faculty have higher burnout rates and lower grant attainment rates when compared with their non-minority counterparts. Many in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) disciplines, including underrepresented individuals, often have difficulty dedicating time to the writing process, with trainees often being relegated to laboratory tasks in their training years, resulting in a lack of practice in academic writing. Notably, past studies have shown that grant attainment rates of underrepresented individuals are lower than their majority counterparts. Here, we sought to consider a mechanism targeted to underrepresented individuals, although applicable to everyone, to help overcome traditional barriers to writing in STEMM. The authors have hosted a writing accountability group (WAG) that uniquely provides a format focused on physical activity and different forms of writing to strengthen both career development and award/funding attainment. Our objectives were to evaluate this unique format, thus creating a resource for individuals and institutions to learn about WAGs and expand upon the framework to formulate their own WAG. To do this, we performed a small pilot study (n = 21) to investigate attitudes towards the WAG. We present the results of a survey conducted among underrepresented WAG participants, which spanned different career stages and was highly diverse demographically. Our results show that following attendance of our WAG, individuals did not note a significant change in scales pertaining to John Henryism (high-effort coping), resilience, sense of belonging, or grit. However, significant increases were noted in the self-perceived ability to handle stress, confidence in applying for awards, appreciation for mentoring, and satisfaction of WAGs. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that our unique WAG format can have some positive results as a career and writing development opportunity and may be able to support underrepresented individuals in attaining funding at higher education institutions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A pilot study on our non-traditional, varied writing accountability group for historically excluded and underrepresented persons in STEMM
- Creators
- Kit Neikirk - Vanderbilt UniversityTaylor Barongan - Vanderbilt UniversityBryanna Shao - Vanderbilt UniversityElsie C. SpencerKinutha Kabugi - Vanderbilt UniversityZachary Conley - Vanderbilt UniversityLarry Vang - Vanderbilt UniversityMein Vue - Vanderbilt UniversityNancy Vang - Vanderbilt UniversityEdgar Garza-Lopez - Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USAAmber Crabtree - Vanderbilt UniversityStefanie Alexander - Vanderbilt UniversityHeather K. Beasley - Vanderbilt UniversityAndrea G. Marshall - Vanderbilt UniversityMason Killion - Vanderbilt UniversityDominique Stephens - Fisk UniversityBeverly Owens - Department of Chemistry, Cleveland Early College High School, Shelby, NC, USADenise Martinez - University of IowaCaroline B. Palavicino-Maggio - Harvard Medical SchoolFelysha Jenkins - Office of Diversity and InclusionChia Vang - Vanderbilt UniversityDerrick J. Morton - University of Southern CaliforniaHaysetta Shuler - Winston-Salem State UniversitySandra A. Murray - University of PittsburghSteven Damo - Fisk UniversityZer Vue - Vanderbilt UniversityAntentor Hinton Jr
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Heliyon, Vol.9(12), e22335
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22335
- PMID
- 38144282
- PMCID
- PMC10746396
- ISSN
- 2405-8440
- eISSN
- 2405-8440
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health; DOI: 10.13039/100000861, name: Burroughs Wellcome Fund; DOI: 10.13039/100014989, name: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative; DOI: 10.13039/100021144, name: United Negro College Fund; DOI: 10.13039/501100011605, name: National Science Foundation
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/01/2023
- Academic Unit
- Family and Community Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984532211302771
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