A phenomenographic study to explore academics' experiences of their research role in one academic nursing department

• Main Author: Kelly, Mary
• Published: University of Bristol 2014
• Subjects: 610.73071
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.658613

This study explores academics' experiences of their research role in one Irish university nursing department. Since 2002, nursing has been an all-graduate profession. This policy change means that nurse education is now based in higher education institutes. For the study, interviews were conducted with eighteen academics, ranging from lecturer to senior lecturer and above from several disciplinary backgrounds using a phenomenographic approach, to enable an understanding of the range and variation in experiences. Three categories of experience emerged from the data: 'getting a foothold on research'; 'navigating an early research career' and 'research as core to the academic role'. In each category there is variation in the focus of awareness concerning involvement in research and research networks, individuals' research aims, and research as a component of the overall academic role. Three dimensions of variation were discerned in the analysis. These relate to involvement in research, identity as a researcher, and control over the nature of work. A critical boundary area concerning membership of the community of research practice is PhD study. The findings indicate that sustained and structured support is required in order to promote the visibility of research within the department and to facilitate continuity of research activity.