"Interventions for High-Risk Sexual Behavior: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation"

JUNE 9-16, 2002 The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University
View photos from the 2002 Summer Institute

The Kinsey Institute has been awarded funding for summer institutes to provide research training in human sexuality. The summer institutes are part of a Kinsey Institute/Indiana University initiative to fill the widening gap in graduate training in human sexuality.

Overview of Program
Structure
Faculty
Application Procedure

Objectives

The second summer institute had the following objectives:
1) to provide research training to graduate students in the area of interventions for high risk sexual behavior (HRSB);
2) to bring together, from around the United States, faculty who have expertise in various aspects of research related to interventions for HRSB;
3) to provide training and teaching of a kind which graduate students are unlikely to obtain in their usual university settings;
4) to provide training and experience which will be directly relevant to the students' future plans for research in this area. The institute experience will include training in developing and writing up research proposals and giving oral presentations.

Overview of Program ( 2002 program schedule)

The focus of the summer institute was to provide specific training in methodological and theoretical aspects of research on interventions for HRSB, developing and writing up research proposals, and in giving oral presentations. As part of their application to attend the summer institute (see 'Selection and application procedure' below), students were asked to submit a brief outline of a research proposal related to interventions for HRSB and these outlines were considered in selecting participants for the program. One month after the end of the institute, a detailed (10 page) proposal will be submitted to the Coordinating Faculty.

Structure of Institute

The program was structured so that there was a combination of: a) large group sessions; b) small discussion group sessions involving 3-5 students and at least one participating faculty; c) mini-presentations by the students of their individual research proposals; and d) independent study time to allow participants to work on their research proposals, incorporating what they are learning in the program.

There was a specific research theme related to each session. Large group sessions began with an introductory lecture by a leading researcher in a specific research area; these primarily provided research updates, and identified key issues/areas of need. Emphasis was placed not just on research questions and findings, but also on methodological issues, modes of data collection and analysis, and ethical issues. Small group discussions focused particularly on conceptual/methodological issues and importantly, related these issues to participants' own ongoing research proposals. Small group discussion leaders were appointed to return to the large group sessions to report on the issues raised in the small-group discussion.

Program and Faculty

The topic of the institute ("Interventions for High-Risk Sexual Behavior: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation") allowed coverage of a fairly wide range of issues including (1) basic issues in the development and evaluation of interventions; (2) components of successful interventions for STD/HIV (3) adolescent risk reduction for STD/HIV, and unwanted pregnancy; (4) interventions in cultural context; (5) school and community-based interventions, including broad based family or individual enhancement programs; (6) interventions for women; (7) interventions for men who have sex with men (MSM); and (8) ethical aspects of research in this area.

Coordinating faculty
o John Bancroft, M.D. [Program Director] Director, The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction; Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University

o Cynthia Graham, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Indiana University; Director of Graduate Training, The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction

o Stephanie Sanders, Ph.D., Associate Director and Associate Scientist, The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction; Associate Professor, Gender Studies, Indiana University; Research Fellow, Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University

o William Yarber, HSD, Professor, Department of Applied Health Science and Adjunct Professor, Gender Studies, Indiana University; Senior Director, Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University; Research Fellow, The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction

Invited faculty
o Michael A. Carrera, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Health Sciences, Hunter College, City University of New York; Adjunct Professor of Community Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical School

o Ralph DiClemente, Ph.D., Associate Director, Emory/Atlanta Center for AIDS Research; Professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University

o Dennis Fortenberry, M.D., M.S, Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Adolescent Medicine, IUPUI

o Mindy Fullilove, M.D., Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Socio-Medical Services, New York State Institute at Columbia University

o Douglas Kirby, Ph.D., Director of Research, ETR Associates, Santa Cruz, CA

o Rafael Mazin, M.D., MPH, Regional Advisor on HIV-STI Prevention/Comprehensive Care, Pan American Health Organization/Regional Office of the World Health Organization for the Americas

o Lucia F. O'Sullivan, Ph.D., HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies; Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology (in Psychiatry), Columbia University

o Michael Ross, Ph.D., MPH, MPHEd, Professor of Public Health, Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas, School of Public Health

o Gina M. Wingood, ScD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University

o Eric R Wright, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sociology and Health Studies, Department of Sociology, IUPUI; Director, Indiana Consortium for Mental Health Services

o Gregory Zimet, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Adolescent Medicine, IUPUI

Post-Institute phase

Several activities will occur following the institute, involving both students and faculty:
1. Student research proposal: Students will be required to submit an expanded and more refined version of the research proposal they developed during the summer institute. The proposal will be due one month following the summer institute and will be evaluated by the coordinating faculty. Further follow-ups of the students will be conducted during the year following the summer institute to determine success in proposing, formulating, and conducting research on interventions for HRSB.

2. Student and faculty evaluation of institute: All of the institute participants including both students and faculty (coordinating and invited) will be asked for their comments concerning the summer institute. Their views about the summer institute's strengths and weaknesses, as well as suggestions for future summer institutes will be solicited.

Participants

Travel, accomodation, and the institute registration fee was provided for 25 graduate students (including up to five international students) for the weeklong program. Preference was given to graduate students doing behavioral or social science research, but post-doctoral and other researchers could apply. Students from minority groups under-represented in this area of research were strongly encouraged to apply. Students who attended the 2001 summer institute were encouraged to apply; evaluations of their final research proposals at the 2001 institute will be considered as part of their application.

Certificates of attendance will be offered to all students completing the program. Students may also enroll for three Indiana University graduate credits (although tuition fees will be the participant's responsibility); some non-Indiana University students may also be able to transfer these credits to their own universities.

Selection and application procedure

The 25 students were selected on the basis of their academic record and letters of recommendation, as well as on their 2-page research outline.

Applicants were asked to submit:
1) an application form
2) letters from two referees;
3) a two page research outline (see 'Research Outline' below).

BY MAIL to:

Dr. Cynthia Graham
Director of Graduate Training
Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction
Morrison Hall 313,
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405

Research outline

As a focus of the summer institute was on developing a research proposal in the area of high-risk sexual behavior, participants were asked to submit a brief (2-page) outline for a proposal which they would like to have developed during the week of the summer institute. The outline included information on the background and objectives of the research (with citations), the hypotheses, and the proposed methodology.

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