Developing Postsecondary Researchers: Exploring the Needs of the Field and Creating a Network

• In Event: Developing Postsecondary Career and Technical Education Scholars to Advance the Field: Projects and Training

Abstract

This presentation will describe the need for research on postsecondary CTE based on the literature and recommendations from the national advisory board. The paper will present processes and collaborations between the funder, the project team, and other stakeholders to create a network to support postsecondary CTE research and develop the next generation of CTE researchers.

Objectives or purposes. The objectives of the paper are to (1) show the need for postsecondary research in CTE, and (2) describe the processes used to develop postsecondary researchers.

Theoretical Framework. For researchers to be able to conduct high quality research, specific knowledge, skills, and abilities are needed. If viewed as a commodity, labor can be bought and sold. Becker (1962) describes human capital theory and discusses the impacts on the individuals with increased earning and the potential return on investment for the organization. In this example, it is assumed that an investment in training and education (training institutes, mentoring, webinars) will increase learning. The second assumption is that increased learning will increase productivity (more postsecondary CTE research is produced). Then greater productivity will result in increased earning and enhance self-efficacy of the research fellows. Additionally, this increased productivity would provide results that can be used to improve the overall field of postsecondary CTE.

Methods, techniques, or modes of inquiry. This paper uses literature as well as quantitative and qualitative data to explore the need for the development of postsecondary CTE researchers. Qualitative data was collected from a two-day advisory board meeting and from the research fellows during the program. Additionally, an integrative review of literature was conducted to show the need for research to focus on postsecondary CTE student success.

Data sources, evidence, objects, or materials. Data for this paper will include findings from the advisory board, surveys of the research fellows, and literature from the field.

Results. The results of this paper demonstrate that investing in the individuals increased their learning on postsecondary CTE research topics. The results indicated that the individuals felt they were part of a network rather than an individual alone doing research. Each of the participants are participating in training institutes, webinars, mentoring program and conducting a postsecondary CTE research project.

Significance of Work. The project is significant because there is a need to better understand the field of postsecondary CTE, specifically from a perspective of student success. By developing researchers, there is hope the field will have more information for practitioners to make data-based decisions in postsecondary CTE programs. This work is also significant because in addition to training this one group of postsecondary CTE fellows, the resources developed will be made widely available to the field.

Authors

• James E. Bartlett, Old Dominion University

• Patrick Quillan Bourke, ECMC Foundation