Cali programs favoring research, if any?

Didn't mean to break your rocks, SOP. I was in a similar place on several interviews answering questions about stuff other guys did for a paper which included my name.

agreed. i certainly wasn't implying that you don't need to know your project or that you don't need to identify your involvement on your application. during one interview I was caught off-guard with a question I didn't have the answer to - not a comfortable position to be in.

Research is all of what you make it to be. I disagree that getting your name on stuff is a be-all-to-end-all good principle. Of course, pubs/posters/presentations are fantastic, but you'd better be able to talk your way out of them at interviews. If you're doing the Excel spreadsheet for a chart review, be very careful how you list that on your CV... on the other hand, if you actually have your hands on the cadaveric ACL grafts for a biomechanical survey, you can probably tell a great story of your experiences... and should do so!

If numbers/research citations were all that mattered, then there wouldn't be a need for interviews...

Not sure if this is the answer you're looking for, but most if not all programs value research to some degree, some more than others - but bottom line is pursue the research you can, get your name on some stuff, and keep working your ass off. That's all you can do.