vi TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
TITLE
DECLARATION
ii
DEDICATION
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
iv
ABSTRACT
v
ABSTRAK
vi
TABLE O F CONTENTS
vii
LIST OF TABLES
xii
LIST OF FIGURES
xiv
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
LIST OF APPENDICES
1
PAGE
xv
xvii
INTRODUCTION
1
1.1 Introduction
1
1.2 Background of Problem
5
1.3 Statement of Problem
13
1.4 Objectives of the Study
16
1.5 Research Questions
16
1.6 Significance of the Study
17
1.7 Scope of the Study
18
1.8 Conceptual Framework
18
1.9 Definition of Terms
19
1.10
2
vii 1.9.1 Medical Universities
19
1.9.2 Academics’ Research
20
1.9.3 Junior Academics in Medicine
20
1.9.4 Professionalism
21
1.9.5 Professional Development Activities
21
Summary
22
LITRATURE REVIEW
23
2.1 Introduction
23
2.2 Background of Islamic Republic of Iran
23
2.2.1 Current Policies of Islamic Republic of Iran
for Development
2.2.2 Background of Iranian Universities
28
2.2.3 Medical Universities in Iran
31
2.2.3.1
Medical Academics’ Professional
Development in Iran
2.2.3.2
33
Educational Development Centers in
Medical Universities in Iran
2.3
25
33
Research
35
2.3.1
Academic Research
36
2.3.1.1
Disciplinary Context and Research
36
2.3.1.2
Academic Research Distinctions
38
2.3.1.3
Academic Research Variations
38
2.3.1.4
Research and Scholarship
39
2.3.1.5
Academic Research Strategies and
Culture
40
2.3.1.6
Academic Researcher Identity
44
2.3.1.7
Academic Research Productivity
47
2.3.1.8
Academic Research Quality
49
2.3.2
Academics’ Research Capability
51
2.3.3
Academics’ Understanding of Research
55
2.4
Academic Development
58
2.5
PDA Needs Analysis for Medical Academics
63
2.6
PDA for Medical Academics
65
2.7
Professionalism
69
2.8
Culture of Medical Faculties
70
2.9
PDA Models
73
2.10 Junior Academics Research Development
83
2.11 PDA for Junior Academics
86
2.12 Theories
90
2.13
3
viii 2.12.1
Complexity Theory
90
2.12.2
Change Theories in PDA
91
2.12.3
Adult Learning Theory
94
2.12.4
Field Theory
99
2.12.5
Activity Theory
99
2.12.6
Action Theory
103
Summary
104
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
106
3.1
Introduction
106
3.2
Research Orientation
106
3.3
Research Design
107
3.3.1
109
Grounded Theory
3.3.1.1
Grounded Theory Rationale and
Characteristics
3.3.1.2
109
Coding Defined in Grounded
Theory
110
3.3.1.3
4
111
3.4
Research Population and Location
112
3.5
Sampling Procedures
113
3.6
Data Collection Techniques
115
3.6.1
Interview
115
3.6.2
Open-ended Questions
118
3.6.3
Observation
119
3.6.4
Documents and Multimedia Materials
119
3.7
Research Process
121
3.8
Data Analysis
122
3.9
Trustworthiness
124
3.10 Ethical Issues
125
3.11 Summary
125
FINDINGS
127
4.1
Introduction
127
4.2
Demographic Background
127
4.3
Data for Research Questions
131
4.3.1
First Research Questions
131
4.3.2
Second Research Question
154
4.3.3
Third Research Question
184
4.3.4
Fourth Research Question
207
4.4
5
Memo Writing
ix Summary
DISCUSSION and Conclusion
5.1
Introduction
5.2
Summary of Findings
5.3
Discussion of the Study
219
220
220
221
222
x 5.4
Draft Theory Development
238
5.5
Final Theory
241
5.6
Implication of the Study
249
5.7
Contribution of the Study
253
5.8
Limitation of the Study
254
5.9
Suggestions for Future Studies
255
5.10
Summary
259
REFERENCES
Appendices A – N
258
289 - 316
xi LIST O F TABLES
TABLE NO.
2.1
TITLE
Name and Number of Universities and Higher
Education Institutes in Iran
2.2
30
Numbers and Prerequisites of Faculty Members by
Academic Rank
2.5
Key Aspects of Research Culture
2.6
Influential Factors on Academics’ Research
Productivity
2.7
30
Number of University Students Based on the
Types of Universities
2.4
29
Gender Proportion and Number of University
Students
2.3
PAGE
31
41
48
Interaction of Research Areas and Quality
Principles in Massy’s Work for Research Audition
50
2.8
Research Items and Self-Efficacy Factors
53
2.9
Interrelationship of Research Practice Aspects and
Academics’ Experience
2.10
Orientations to Academic Activities
2.11
Professional \development Paradigm Shift
2.12
Gardners’ Model of Juniors Research Development
57
60
74
85
xii 2.13
Orientations of Learning
95
2.14
Adult Learning Principles
98
3.1
Research Questions and Interview Items
117
4.1
Respondents Profile
128
4.2
Interviewees Profile
130
4.3
Summary of Categories for First Research Question
152
4.4
Summary of Categories for Second Research Question
183
4.5
Summary of Categories for Third Research Question
206
4.6
Summary of Categories for Fourth Research Question
218
xiii LIST O F FIGURES
FIGURE NO.
PAGE
TITLE
1.1
Conceptual Framework
19
2.1
Growing Trends of Human Resources Indexes from 1980
25
2.2
Administrative Structure of Educational Development Centers in
Medical Universities
35
2.3
Unified Model for The Academics’ Research Capability
55
2.4
Model of Academic Professional Development
61
2.5
Academic Development Model
62
2.6
Faculty Cultural Adaptation on International PDA Experience
72
2.7
Conceptual Model for Medical Junior Academics’ PDA
81
2.8
Professional Development model for Orthodontist
82
2.9
Elements on Junior Academics’ Support programs
89
2.10
Interactions of Ferman’s Categories for Academics’
Professional
Development
98
2.11
First Generation of Activity Model
100
2.12
Second Generation of Activity Model
101
2.13
Third Generation of Activity Model
102
3.1
Theoretical Sampling Sequences
111
3.2
Stages of Grounded Theory
123
5.1
Draft Theory of Research Development Trajectory
240
5.2
Final Theory of Juniors’ Research Development
248
LIST OF ABBRIVIATION
AAMC
-
Association of American Medical Colleges
ACGME
-
Accreditation Council for Graduate
Medical Education
AIHRD
-
Al Hayat Institute of Human Resources
Development
AMERA
-
American Medical Education and Research
Association
AMRA
-
American Medical Research Association
AP & TME
-
Middle East
CSMI
-
Comprehensive Scientific Map of Iran
EU
-
Europe
GDP
-
Gross Domestic Product
GT
-
Grounded Theory
IRI
-
Islamic Republic of Iran
IRSS
-
Involvement, Regimen, Self-management
Social Network
MOE
-
Ministry of Education
MoHME
-
Ministry of Health and Medical Education
MRC
-
Medical Research Council
OECD
-
Organization of Economic Co-operation
and Development
PDA
-
Professional Development Activities
PhD
-
Doctor of Philosophy
POD
-
Professional and Organizational
Development
R&D
-
Research and Development
xiv R&R
-
Ruling and Regulating
RDT
-
Research Development Trajectory
UN
-
United Nations
UNDP
-
United Nations Development Programme
UNESCO
-
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and
Cultural Organization
US
-
United State of America
xv xvi LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDIX
TITLE
PAGE
A
Interview Form
289
B1
Open-ended Questionnaire 1
290
B2
Open-ended Questionnaire 2
291
B3
Pilot Study Analysis
292
C
Observation Form
294
D
The Law of the Fourth Economic, Social and Cultural
Development Plan
295
E
Faculties at Persian University of Medical Sciences
299
F
Medicine Departments at Persian University
300
G
University Research Strategy (Translation)
302
H
Letter of Invitation
307
I
Information Sheet - Fieldwork
308
J
Consent Letter – Open-ended Questionnaire
309
K
Consent Form – Semi-structured Interview
310
L
Sample of Circulars
311
M
Translation of Interview Transcript & Coding Sample
313
N
Sample of Categorizing for RQ1
315