Perceptions of pharmacy faculty need for development in educational research

Pharmacy educators have identified that pharmacy faculty need a better understanding of educational research to facilitate improvement of teaching, curricula, and related outcomes. However, the specific faculty development needs have not been assessed. The purpose of this study was to investigate self-reported confidence among clinical doctor of pharmacy faculty in skills essential for conducting educational research.

Faculty members with primary responsibilities in teaching at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy were invited to the take the Adapted Self-Efficacy in Research Measure (ASERM). Descriptive analysis and independent samples t-tests were used to compare the self-efficacy items by faculty rank, gender, and years of experience.

Twenty-two of the 37 faculty members answered the 30-item survey that identified their self-efficacy in items and categories of skills, including writing skills, statistical skills, research design, research management and dissemination in education research. Senior faculty had significantly higher confidence than junior faculty on seven items. Participants who worked more than ten years had statistically higher confidence in preparing and submitting grant proposals to obtain funding for educational research. Skills where both junior and senior faculty had low confidence were related to using non-traditional methods such as qualitative methods and identifying funding resources for educational research.

Findings from the ASERM provided insights among pharmacy educators regarding self-efficacy related to skills needed for educational research, options for faculty development opportunities and actions for improving educational research knowledge and skills among them.