Setting, Design, and Method: A survey of 151 health and human services faculty members (Nursing, Social Work, Physical Therapy, Speech Pathology, Kinesiology, Recreation, and Criminal Justice) was conducted in a public university to determine which incentives and barriers influenced faculty participation in research. A response rate of 92 % was obtained on the anonymous survey.

Concept Targeted: The goal was to identify barriers to and incentives for promoting research in order to provide guidance to the development of a faculty research fellows program. The goal of the research fellows program was to support new faculty as they began their teaching career and to increase their research involvement.

Findings: Faculty members reported lack of release time, difficulty prioritizing multiple commitments, lack of access to statistical support, and lack of mentors who had national funding most hindered their research efforts. The ability to mentor and include students in research projects, and ample access to clinical agencies were identified as promoting faculty research activities. Whether the institution valued research was also identified as a critical factor.

Conclusions: Programs that pair experienced researchers and newer faculty members in a format such as a faculty research fellows program are likely to promote the research activities of newer faculty.

Implications: Institutions should establish workload assignments that allow for concentrated periods to be devoted to research, reward faculty members who include students in their research, and work to establish linkages between institutions in order to mentor newer faculty who are beginning their careers. Long term studies are needed which determine whether undergraduate student involvement in research is related to subsequent research productivity for those who select a career in academia.

Back to Posters I
Back to 15th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004