Table 2 Attitudes and perceived barriers among Jordanian medical students stratified by gender

Attitudes

Mentorship is important in completing high quality research/scholarly activity

4.54 ± 0.74

4.60 ± 0.72

4.50 ± 0.75

0.109

Research/scholarly activity promotes critical thinking and sound reasoning

4.30 ± 0.86

4.35 ± 0.82

4.22 ± 0.91

0.044

Completing research/scholarly activity during residency is important for obtaining a job in a desirable department/location

4.30 ± 0.93

4.33 ± 0.90

4.22 ± 0.95

0.121

I consider research/scholarly activity to be an important part of my residency training

4.02 ± 1.05

4.11 ± 1.04

3.91 ± 1.06

0.018

I consider research/scholarly activity during residency is important for obtaining fellowship

4.20 ± 0.95

4.20 ± 0.96

4.20 ± 0.93

0.818

I consider research/scholarly activity during residency is important for achieving an advanced degree

4.15 ± 0.97

4.20 ± 1.00

4.12 ± 0.95

0.598

I would pursue research/scholarly activity even if it were not a mandatory component of residency

3.61 ± 1.30

3.70 ± 1.32

3.54 ± 1.30

0.123

The research/scholarly activity expectations of my department are a source of stress for me

3.53 ± 1.14

3.60 ± 1.11

3.50 ± 1.16

0.142

Research/scholarly activity (e.g., publishing an article) grants me personal gratification

3.94 ± 1.04

4.03 ± 0.97

3.85 ± 1.10

0.033

I consider research/scholarly activity as tools that facilitate providing better health services and increase patient care

4.25 ± 0.90

4.31 ± 0.90

4.20 ± 0.92

0.106

Research/scholarly activity should be MANDATORY for medical students and/or residents

3.70 ± 1.24

3.78 ± 1.22

3.60 ± 1.25

0.070

Knowledge barriers

I lack experience in creating a research/scholarly activity proposal/methodology

3.53 ± 1.26

3.65 ± 1.26

3.41 ± 1.24

0.016

I lack experience and training in medical writing/manuscript creation

3.60 ± 1.19

3.68 ± 1.19

3.51 ± 1.18

0.066

I have Inadequate linguistic skills (inadequate English) to use academic resources

2.13 ± 1.25

2.15 ± 1.26

2.12 ± 1.24

0.698

I am unable to identify areas of research or formulate research questions

2.87 ± 1.22

2.93 ± 1.27

2.80 ± 1.17

0.177

I am unfamiliar with statistical principles

3.32 ± 1.27

3.46 ± 1.25

3.16 ± 1.27

0.003

Organizational barriers

There is lack of protected time for resident research/scholarly activity

4.01 ± 0.89

4.06 ± 0.88

3.96 ± 0.91

0.117

The clinical workload is too high (i.e., interferes with research/scholarly activity time)

4.12 ± 0.90

4.21 ± 0.83

4.03 ± 0.97

0.013

There are too many educational activities (e.g., exams and clinical rotations)

4.15 ± 0.92

4.26 ± 0.89

4.04 ± 0.95

0.002

There is a lack of funding for research/scholarly activity in my department

4.12 ± 0.91

4.14 ± 0.90

4.09 ± 0.93

0.500

There is a lack of laboratories and other facilities in my department

3.89 ± 1.02

3.96 ± 1.04

3.83 ± 0.99

0.096

There is a lack of faculty members experienced in conducting research

3.41 ± 1.22

3.43 ± 1.24

3.38 ± 1.20

0.593

There is a lack of statistical support

3.84 ± 1.03

3.91 ± 0.98

3.75 ± 1.07

0.048

There is lack of ‘‘credited authorship’’ when I participate in research projects

3.46 ± 1.04

3.56 ± 1.05

3.35 ± 1.02

0.011

There is difficulty in obtaining data/data collection or inability to recruit participants

3.54 ± 1.09

3.54 ± 1.09

3.54 ± 1.10

0.980

There is a lack of available research/scholarly activity in my department

3.48 ± 1.09

3.51 ± 1.11

3.46 ± 1.08

0.578

Research/ scholarly activity is not perceived to be important by my program/ department

2.94 ± 1.18

2.85 ± 1.17

3.05 ± 1.18

0.033

There is difficulty obtaining ethical approval (IRB)

2.99 ± 1.04

2.99 ± 1.07

2.99 ± 1.01

0.997

My program doesn’t have a research/scholarly activity curriculum

2.68 ± 1.21

2.61 ± 1.24

2.75 ± 1.16

0.148

There is a lack of input from research supervisors

3.55 ± 1.07

3.64 ± 1.09

3.45 ± 1.05

0.029

There is a lack of cooperation from the authorities of health centers and health staff

3.59 ± 1.04

3.65 ± 1.07

3.52 ± 1.01

0.125

Misc. barriers

The research/scholarly activity projects available are of low quality

3.28 ± 1.07

3.22 ± 1.11

3.34 ± 1.01

0.161

I find it hard to publish projects after completion

3.48 ± 0.96

3.56 ± 0.96

3.39 ± 0.95

0.024

I lack encouragement from a mentor

3.61 ± 1.15

3.71 ± 1.13

3.51 ± 1.18

0.034

There is difficulty in finding same-gender research mentors

2.61 ± 1.20

2.75 ± 1.24

2.45 ± 1.13

0.001

I do not have a personal interest in research/ scholarly activity

2.65 ± 1.44

2.66 ± 1.42

2.65 ± 1.45

0.921

I’m afraid from sexual harassment in research environments

1.81 ± 1.14

2.00 ± 1.18

1.16 ± 1.06

< 0.001

Research/scholarly activities are boring

2.87 ± 1.36

2.83 ± 1.33

2.91 ± 1.40

0.478

Gender perceptions

My gender is currently a barrier to my career aspirations/advancement

1.77 ± 1.13

1.92 ± 1.15

1.61 ± 1.07

< 0.001

People’s attitudes about my gender are currently a barrier to my career aspirations/advancement

1.89 ± 1.22

2.09 ± 1.26

1.68 ± 1.15

< 0.001