Building Developmental Networks of Early Career Academics: An Informed Learning Perspective

Supervisors:Professor Helen PartridgeProfessor Christine BruceDoctor Brian Hemmings

Student: Faye Millerfaye.miller@student.qut.edu.au

PhD Articulation Confirmation of Candidature

Research ContextResearch ProblemResearch Questions and OutcomesLiterature ReviewMethodologyResearch DesignPilot StudyContributionsFuture Research Directions

Presentation Overview

Research Context

• Changes in higher education... Australian and international contexts

• Early career academics and the future academic workforce… complexity of roles, including research-teaching nexus

• Complex information and knowledge environment… blending traditional and innovative ways of communicating, interacting and learning within academic cultures

Research Problem

A shift in focus from the individual experience to a ‘relational’ experience…

An increasingly complex information practice particularly for the beginning university academic…

‘Informed learning’ concept… used as a conceptual framework to gain a clearer picture of how early career academics are using information to learn within this complex information practice: to build, maintain and utilise their networks for professional growth and development.

Research Question and OutcomesThe knowledge gained through this

research will then be applied to produce the following outcomes:

• A theoretical model of early

career academics’ use of information to learn how to create and utilise their developmental networks for the purposes of enhancing their research and teaching; and

• An empirical basis to inform

academic development strategies and information development strategies to enhance mentoring, career development and networking training at universities for early career academics.

How do early career academics use information to learn while building their developmental networks?

Literature Review• This interdisciplinary study draws together theory

from a number of fields including higher education, information behaviour, information literacy, human resource development, communication and social psychology.

The purposes of this preliminary literature review are:• to gain an initial general overview of the topic;• to identify any gaps in the research area;• to identify and define the research problem and

research question; • to assist in designing the data collection instrument

(interview guide); and• to link and integrate early themes emerging from

the pilot study with the relevant literature.

Literature Review: Overview• The first section examines literature on early

career academics in higher education, their support systems and key focus areas relevant to ECAs for this study.

• The second part explores the literature on networking in academia in general, followed by developmental networking and mentoring or learning relationships for ECAs.

• The third section explores the informed learning concept and its relevance to developmental networking as an information practice, followed by affective dimensions of information, incorporating literature from both information literacy and information behaviour fields.

Literature Review: Early Career Academics• Research support for publication and grants development (Hemmings et al, 2009; Greene, 2008; Sutherland

& Petersen, 2010);

• Mentoring (Nakamura et al, 2009; Foote, 2010; Greene et al, 2008);

• Building and using support networks for research and teaching (Sutherland & Petersen, 2010; Foote, 2010);

• Balancing duties in research, teaching and service (Greene et al, 2008);

• Balancing work and personal life (Sutherland & Petersen, 2010; Foote, 2010);

• Formal and informal sources of support (Greene et al, 2008);

• Fostering a supportive culture of open communication, collaboration and collegiality (Foote, 2010);

• Professional development programs for ECAs and those who support ECAs i.e. senior academics or research/teaching support staff (Foote, 2010);

• ECAs’ development of self-efficacy for a range of academic tasks (Hemmings et al, 2009; Major & Dolly, 2003; Sutherland & Petersen, 2010); and

• Use of prior experiences in graduate school and industry (Sutherland & Petersen, 2010).

Literature Review: Networking in Academia

• Major shift in focus from individual experience to relational or collaborative experience… reflected in recent literature from fields of higher education, human resource development and information behavior and information literacy.

• Emerging relational focus… suggests a need for research into understanding affective (or emotional) factors to complement dominant cognitive-based research

• Emerging focus on building social networks and human relationships via collaborative technologies and traditional communication methods… suggests an increasingly complex use of information and knowledge by university academics, particularly beginning academics

• Implicit in these relationships in the role and use of information and knowledge

Literature Review: Developmental Networking for Early Career Academics

• Developmental networks…Emerging contemporary mentoring theory and practice that reflects the changing nature of careers. A form of social network that focuses on one’s formal and informal relationships for personal learning, career and professional growth, satisfaction and success (Higgins & Kram, 2001).

• Developmental networks for early career academics… Little research on mentoring from a developmental networking perspective in higher education contexts (Baker Sweitzer, 2009).

• Research supervisory pedagogy… study by Bruce & Stoodley (2009) provides insight into research supervisory experiences and the design of teaching and learning for research students.

• Supervisory relationships and informed learning concept… A holistic view of support for the early career academic experience, from an informed learning perspective is needed.

Literature Review: Informed Learning• The role or influence of information, knowledge or information literacy in the area of

developmental networking for early career academics has not yet been studied. This study aims to fill this gap.

• Informed learning (Bruce, 2008) is overarching conceptual framework for this study. Chosen because of the simultaneous focus on information and learning, as developmental networking is primarily a learning experience and to effectively communicate the study to a cross-disciplinary audience

• Informed learning is an embryonic concept – this study aims to advance understanding and application of this concept

• Information practice – ‘academic, professional and civic activities that require interaction with information environment, sometimes within a technological context and sometimes not…’ (Bruce, 2008, p. 9)

• Informed learning for research students, research communities, community interaction and professional practice appear relevant for early career academics

• Informed learning is supported by literature in workplace information literacy and affective aspects of information behaviour

Methodology• Qualitative Research.. Using the qualitative method of

grounded theory allows for investigation of complex ways ECAs use information to learn while networking

• Constructivist Grounded Theory… move away from positivist origins to interpretivist (Charmaz, 2006). Co-construction of meaning or shared understanding between researcher and participants. Results in reflective prose detailing the process and experiences, supported by quotes from interviews.

• Theoretical Sensitivity… constructivist GT acknowledges the role of the literature review as part of the construction of knowledge. Role of the researcher’s background knowledge adding value to the study.

• Evaluating Constructivist Grounded Theory… the relationships between researcher and participants will be thoroughly documented as memos for evidence. Ongoing exploration of issue of quality.

Participants: Selection and Sampling• Participants selected using purposive sampling technique. Specific criteria

used to target suitable participants:1) Early career academic, within first five years of a full time appointment to a university, who engages in both teaching and research;2) Significant industry/professional experience before joining academia; and3) Experience with networking for professional and personal development towards learning how to be an academic.

• Participants will be:– Early career academics across a range of disciplines, professional

backgrounds, and from a range of Australian universities– Identified through searching university internal communications

directory and staff web pages– Recruited by contacting directly via email and scheduling interview

times– Sample size – approx fourteen participants. Minimum of ten participants

in GT studies.

Research Design: Data Collection

• Constructivist grounded theory emphasises actions of participants, the processes involved in use of information to learn in this context (Charmaz, 2006)

• Semi-structured research interviews are suitable for investigating the research problem as they allow participants to explain the process and experience of how they use information to learn while building their developmental networks.

• Interviews allow co-construction of theory through conversation between researcher and participants.

Research Design: Data Analysis

• Grounded theory data analysis involves an iterative process of coding and categorising, memo writing, category saturation and theory development.

• Data collection and data analysis occur concurrently.

• Combination of NVivo software and manual data analysis.

Pilot Study• Purpose of the Pilot Study... To identify preliminary concepts and themes and to

evaluate the data collection and data analysis procedures for next phase.

• The Participants… 8 ECAs from one campus of a university within first 5 years of a full time appointment, from a range of disciplines (Science, Arts and Education), with practitioner backgrounds and experience with networking for professional and personal development.

• Reflection on Pilot Study… data collected is rich and detailed, suitable for working towards grounded theory. Quotes from participants will be used to support discussion of findings. Reflection on interview techniques and developing rapport

• Preliminary data analysis… Open coding of interview transcripts using key guiding questions. Early categories developed from initial manual line-by-line codes. Literature review revised to reflect early findings and revised throughout the study towards theory development.

Pilot Study: Interview QuestionsResearch Interviews…Semi-structured, face toface, open endedquestions to encourageconversation.

Use of prompt questions,depending on individualresponses.

Background informationgathered on roles andduties as an ECA, priorwork experience.

Pilot Study: Key Questions During Data Analysis

• What is a developmental network for an early career academic? Key sources of development (or developers):

Early Career Academic

PhD Experience-Supervisors (or potential supervisors)- Examiners- Research Students

Formal Mentoring-Assigned mentor- Head of School-- Dean

Informal Mentoring-Senior academics- Peer mentors-Other professionals

Information and Research Support-Library- Research Services- IT Services

Colleagues/peers-Within same school-Outside of School/Discipline-Practitioners

Academic development -Educational designers/developers-Professional development programs

Family-Within academia-Outside of academia

Friends-Within academia- Outside of academia

Pilot Study: Key Questions During Data Analysis

• What information is used to learn while building developmental networks?

• Use of informal information to learn – informal sphere is most important for learning

• Information modalities and types used while learning

Pilot Study: Key Questions During Data Analysis

• How is information used to learn while building developmental networks?

• Reciprocity is critical to successful building of developmental relationships and networks

• Mutually supportive relationships provide benefits in forms of information, learning and support to the ECA and their mentors/developers

Pilot Study: Emerging Themes

Based on early findings from the pilot study, usinginformation to learn in this context is closely related to thefollowing emerging themes: • The primary conceptualisation of the multilayered nature

of mutually supportive relationships between people in a developmental network (between ECAs and their mentors or developers); and

• The primary importance of using informal information to learn in this context.

Pilot Study: Emerging ThemesRelationship layer TypeCommunication modes Face-to-face, in person only

Face-to-face, online (video) only

Virtual only (non-face to face)

Blend of face-to-face, in person and

virtual, long distance Cross-boundaries Cross-disciplinary

Cross-profession

Cross-culturalCross-

institution

Work roles Research onlyTeaching and

Learning only

Administrative onlyOverlap of

Research/Teaching/

AdministrationAcademic-

practitioner Personal sphere Intellectual

EmotionalPhysicalSpiritualCreative

Temporality Stages / History / Journey (of a developmental relationship)

Contributions

• Both theoretical and practical implications could benefit the following groups and inform their policies and practice:

• Early career academics;• Academic developers;• University library and information services;• Research development and research support staff;• Research supervisors and mentors to early career academics:• Career counsellors specialising in academic careers; and• University management.

ContributionsThe research aims to advance knowledge in the following areas: • LIS theory: the embryonic concept of ‘informed learning’ and

theories in information literacy and information behaviour in the context of university academic development.

• LIS practice: designing library and information sources and services

for ECAs. • HE theory: early career academic development from holistic,

networked and information/knowledge perspectives. • HE practice: designing professional development programs,

enhancing supervisory and mentoring relationships in teaching and research for ECAs.

• HRD/career development theory: the under-researched area of

developmental networking for professionals, particularly in the university academic context.

• HRD/career development practice: designing career development

initiatives and support services for ECAs.

Future Research Directions• Exploring the connections (actions and processes)

between emerging themes

• Second round of data collection (research interviews) using revised interview question

• Second round of data analysis. Findings will be compared to results of the first round of interviews, towards theory development

• Develop further literature review and memos/reflection on key constructs such as informed learning and the relationship between information behaviour and information literacy for early career academics

• Manuscripts will be submitted for publication in academic journals and conferences for both LIS and higher education audiences.

Questions

Thank You