using personal development planning for career development with research scientists in sub ...

367 Pages·2011·2.57 MB·English

USING PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING FOR
CAREER DEVELOPMENT WITH RESEARCH
SCIENTISTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

This thesis is submitted in accordance with the requirements of the
University of Liverpool for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy

By

Hazel McCullough

August 2010

i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
APPENDICES..................................................................................... x
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................ xi
ABSTRACT..................................................................................... xii
LIST OF TABLES........................................................................... xiv
LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................... xv
DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS......................................... xvi

CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY
Introduction........................................................................................ ... 1
Background to the study.................................................................... ... 4
Building research capacity in Africa............................................ ... 4
Career challenges for research scientists in Africa......................... .. 5
The Gates Malaria Partnership......................................................... 8
Purpose of the study.............................................................................. 9
Why use Personal Development Planning?............................ ........... 11
PDP in a Sub-Saharan African context............................................. 13
Design of the study................................................................................ 14
Significance of the study....................................................................... 18
Timeline of the study............................................................................. 19
Summary of chapters............................................................................. 21

CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction.................................................................................... ........ 23
Personal Development Planning (PDP).................................................. 24
Definitions.......................................................................................... 24
Challenges faced with definition and purpose of PDP....................... 25
ii
Theory underpinning PDP...................................................................... 27
PDP evidence base.................................................................................. 30
Debate on conceptual content of PDP................................................ 30
Parallel research debate on implementation of PDP policy…........... 31
The developing PDP evidence base................................................... 34
PDP in Higher Education in the UK....................................................... 35
PDP policy in UK Higher Education................................................. 37
PDP for research scientists in the UK.................................................... 38
The “skills agenda” for postgraduate researchers.............................. 39
The Joint Skills Statement................................................................ 41
The “research career builder” for postdoctoral researchers............ 42
Supporting PDP for researchers........................................................ 42
The role of PDP in career development................................................ 43
Careers and career models............................................................... 43
Career models and research scientists............................................... 4 5
Career management and early-career researchers............................. 46
Career development for early-career researchers......................... .......... 48
Challenges for early-career researchers............ ............................... 50
Support for early-career researchers................................................ 52
Developing PDP for a Sub-Saharan African context............................. 55
Developing PDP for research scientists in Africa. ........................... 56
Implementing PDP in Sub-Saharan Africa...................................... 57
Summary................................................................................................ 59

CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY

Introduction............................................................................................ 61
Theoretical approach............................................................................. 62
Action Research...................... .......................................................... 62
Criticism of Action Research............................................................ 64
Epistemological shifts in Action Research....................................... 65
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Research paradigms............................................................................... 66
An integrated approach..................................................................... 67
Mixed-methods research................................................................... 68
Evaluations framework......................................................................... 69
Research design..................................................................................... 72
Research procedures............................................................................. 7 4
Sampling........................................................................................... 74
Description of the participants.......................................................... 75
Ethical considerations............................................................................ 78
Approval and informed consent..................................................... 78
Ethical issues.................................................................................. 79
Data collection strategies and instruments............................................ 81
Initial reaction survey and follow-up questionnaires....................... 83
Semi-structured interviews............................................................... 84
Nominal Group Technique and Online Focus Group Discussion.... 87
Managing, selecting and utilising data.................................................. 89
Data analysis.......................................................................................... 91
Role of the researcher............................................................................ 92
Insider in the research process.......................................................... 93
Limitations of the study......................................................................... 94
Summary................................................................................................ 95

CHAPTER 4. DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE PDP
SYSTEM AND INDIVIDUAL ACTION PLANS

Introduction............................................................................................ 97
Developing an evidence-based PDP system for the GMP PDP
Group............................................................................................ ...98
Needs analysis........................................................................... .......98
What the GMP PDP group wanted............................................ .. 98
The group‟s intended purpose for PDP.................................. ..... 99
Challenges with developing the GMP PDP system and tools.......... ..... 100
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Finding an evidence-based system to adapt................................. 101
The Research Career Builder............................................................ 104
Additional information to support development............................... 106
The GMP PDP system and tools........................................................... 108
GMP PDP documentation and supporting materials........................ 111
The GMP Personal Development Action Plan............................. 111
Developing the Personal Development Action Plan............... 113
The Self-evaluation document.......................................................... 115
The Skills-assessment document...................................................... 117
The Progress Monitoring and Annual Report forms........................ 118
The Guidance Notes.......................................................................... 119
Piloting and refining the GMP system and tools...................................
119
Implementing the GMP PDP system and tools.....................................
121
Monitoring and reviewing the GMP PDP system.................................
122
Developing an infrastructure to support the PDP system......................
123
The GMP built -in support mechanisms......................................... ...
126
Supervisory support......................................................................
126
PDP Advisor.................................................................................
127
Financial support................................... .......................................
128
Annual “PhD” days......................................................................
128
Setting up an electronic discussion forum for peer support..............
129
Looking for discussion forum models..........................................
129
The GMP PDP Group designing the forum.................................
131
Developing the forum...................................................................
132
Implementing the forum...............................................................
133
Managing the forum.....................................................................
133
Developing individual PDP action plans...............................................
134
Summary................................................................................................
137
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CHAPTER 5. EVALUATION: REACTION TO PDP, THE
SYSTEM, TOOLS AND PROCESSES

Introduction.............................................................................................
138
Evaluation level 1 – Reaction to using PDP...........................................
138
The positive aspects of using PDP..........................................................
141
Career.................................................................................................
141
Reflection..........................................................................................
142
Opportunity to plan and develop skills..............................................
143
Other..................................................................................................
143
Difficulties and issues with using PDP...................................................
144
Time...................................................................................................
144
Self...................................................................................................... 145
Planning difficulties........................................................................... 146
Resource and budget difficulties........................................................ 147
Other................................................................................................... 147
Evaluation level 1 – Reaction to the GMP PDP system......................... 147
GMP PDP tools and supporting materials.............................................. 148
Personal Development Action Plan (PDAP)...................................... 151
Guidance notes................................................................................... 153
Self-evaluation document................................................................... 154
Skills-assessment document............................................................... 155
The Progress Monitoring and Annual Report forms.......................... 156
Evaluation level 1 – Reaction to the GMP PDP processes..................... 158
Implementation of PDP and the GMP PDP system................................ 158
Action Planning – developing individual action plans....................... 160
Skills deficit................................................................................ 166
Monitoring and reviewing....................................................................... 168
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PDP project monitoring............................................................... 168
PDP advisors‟ monitoring system............................................... 169
PDP self-monitoring system....................................................... 170
Evaluation level 1 – Reaction to the GMP PDP support systems........... 172
Support and resources............................................................................. 172
Institutional support............................................................................ 173
Improving institutional support................................................... 176
Financial support..................................................................................... 177
PDP advisor............................................................................................. 180
Summary and recommendations............................................................. 181

CHAPTER 6. EVALUATION: LEARNINGAS A RESULT OF
ENGAGING WITH PDP

Introduction............................................................................................. 184
Evaluation level 2 – Learning as a result of engaging with PDP............ 185
Skills identified....................................................................................... 189
Research-related skills....................................................................... 189
Generic skills...................................................................................... 192
Professional and profession-related skills.......................................... 195
Developing teaching and lecturing skills....................................... 196
Developing project management skills.......................................... 199
Developing skills for varying stages of career development......... 200
Gaining the skills.................................................................................... 202
Courses.............................................................................................. 203
Sourcing resources............................................................................ 205
Getting around difficulties...................................... ............................ 206
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Using PDP money for purchases........................................................ 207
Resources used to achieve PDP objectives........................................ 208
Evaluation level 3 – Learning and application to practice...................... 208
Learning.................................................................................................. 209
Opportunistic learning........................................................................ 210
Learning with and from others........................................................... 211
Reflection and experiential learning................................................... 213
Learning experiences in Africa.......................................................... 215
Application of learning to practice.......................................................... 218
Summary................................................................................................. 221

CHAPTER 7. EVALUATION: PDP AND CAREER
DEVELOPMENT
Introduction............................................................................................. 223
Evaluation level 4 – Results of using PDP for career development....... 223
PDP: relevant and useful to the GMP PDP Group‟s needs................ 225
How was PDP relevant?..................................................................... 226
Seeing the value in using PDP........................................................... 227
GMP PDP Career Paths.......................................................................... 229
Senior career researchers.................................................................... 230
Advanced early-career researchers.................................................... 230
Early-career researchers..................................................................... 231
Attributing PDP to their career development......................................... 233
Recommending PDP to others................................................................ 235
PDP: a “one-off” activity or habitual behaviour?................................... 237
Transferability of PDP more widely in Africa........................................ 238
Personal support................................................................................. 240
viii
Financial support................................................................................ 241
Institutional support........................................................................... 242
Time.................................................................................................... 244
A proposed PDP system for transfer to a wider context Africa.............. 246
Summary................................................................................................. 249

CHAPTER 8. SUMMARY, KEY LESSONS LEARNED AND
RECOMMENDATIONS

Introduction............................................................................................. 251
Summary of the study............................................................................. 251
Methodology........................................................................................... 252
Summary of the main findings.......................... ...................................... 254
Key lessons learned................................................................................. 255
Recommendations................................................................................... 256
Suggested further research..................................................................... . 257
Current events........................................................................................ . 258

REFERENCES

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APPENDICES:

Appendix 1. Informed consent form
Appendix 2. Reaction survey questionnaire
Appendix 3 Follow-up questionnaire
Appendix 4. Interview schedule
Appendix 5. Joint Skills Statement
Appendix 6. PDP Progress monitoring Form
Appendix 7. PDP Annual Report
Appendix 8. PDP Guidance Notes
Appendix 9. PDP Brief
Appendix 10. Power-point presentation of PDP implementation
Appendix 11. Power-point presentation of using the Discussion
Forum

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