Purdue University Purdue e-Pubs Open Access Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 8-2016 Thematic analysis of influencers on continuing professional learning of tenure track engineering faculty as assistant professors at an RU/VH institution James Edwin Cawthorne Purdue University Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations Part of the Higher Education Commons Recommended Citation Cawthorne, James Edwin, "Thematic analysis of influencers on continuing professional learning of tenure track engineering faculty as assistant professors at an RU/VH institution" (2016). Open Access Dissertations. 741. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations/741 This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. Graduate School Form 30 Updated PURDUE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL Thesis/Dissertation Acceptance This is to certify that the thesis/dissertation prepared By James Cawthorne Entitled Thematic Analysis of Influencers on Continuing Professional Learning of Tenure Track Engineering Faculty as Assistant Professors at RU/VH Institutions For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Is approved by the final examining committee: Ruth Streveler Monica Cardella Co-chair Monica Cox Co-chair Audeen Fentiman Karl Smith To the best of my knowledge and as understood by the student in the Thesis/Dissertation Agreement, Publication Delay, and Certification Disclaimer (Graduate School Form 32), this thesis/dissertation adheres to the provisions of Purdue University’s “Policy of Integrity in Research” and the use of copyright material. Approved by Major Professor(s): Ruth Streveler and Monica Cox Approved by: Ruth Streveler 7/7/2016 Head of the Departmental Graduate Program Date i THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF INFLUENCERS ON CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OF TENURE TRACK ENGINEERING FACULTY AS ASSISTANT PROFESSORS AT AN RU/VH INSTITUTION A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Purdue University by James Edwin Cawthorne Jr. In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy August 2016 Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana ProQuest Number: 10170579 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. ProQuest 10170579 Published by ProQuest LLC ( 2016 ). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, MI 48106 - 1346 ii My dissertation is dedicated to my friends and family. Thank you for all of your support and patience through this journey. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is with sincere appreciation and heartfelt thanks that I acknowledge the following people for their help and support throughout my research study: Dr. Ruth Streveler, for your encouragement, belief, and support – I am not sure I would be here without your guidance and support; Dr. Monica Cardella, Dr. Audeen Fenitman, Dr. Karl Smith, for serving on my dissertation committee and helping guide me through this process; Dr. Monica Cox, for training me to do qualitative research; Dr. Daniel Ferguson, for being my friend, dissertation buddy, and mentor; Dr. Michele Strutz, for being my friend throughout the doctoral process who was always up for good conversation; Ms. Sara Carvell, for her patience and support throughout this long journey; ENE Cohort Fall 2007, for being a great group of colleagues and friends; The participants in this study for their willingness to talk to me; and My other Purdue doctoral colleagues – I look forward to future conversations throughout our careers. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... ix ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ x CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 1.1. Statement of the Problem ..............................................................................................3 1.2. Expanded Explanation of the Research Problem ..........................................................3 1.3. Purpose of the Study and Research Question ...............................................................6 1.4. Scope of the Study ........................................................................................................6 1.5. Operational Definitions ................................................................................................6 1.6. Dissertation Organization .............................................................................................9 CHAPTER 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE .................................................................... 10 2.1. Profession ...................................................................................................................10 2.2. Professional Development ..........................................................................................12 2.3. Academic Profession ..................................................................................................15 2.4. Faculty and Faculty Development ..............................................................................16 2.4.1. Integrated History of Faculty and Faculty Development in US ...................... 17 2.4.2. Assistant Professor and Tenure ....................................................................... 23 2.4.3. Faculty Development Studies .......................................................................... 28 2.4.4. Forms of Faculty Development ....................................................................... 31 2.5. Gap ..............................................................................................................................33 2.6. Summary .....................................................................................................................35 CHAPTER 3. RESEARCH METHOD ............................................................................ 36 3.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................36 v Page 3.2. Research Design Worldview ......................................................................................36 3.3. Inquiry Approach ........................................................................................................37 3.4. Methodological Frameworks ......................................................................................37 3.4.1. Phenomenography ........................................................................................... 38 3.4.2. Thematic Analysis ........................................................................................... 39 3.5. Research Team ............................................................................................................40 3.6. Sampling Framework ..................................................................................................41 3.7. Qualitative Data Collection ........................................................................................43 3.7.1. Interview Protocol ........................................................................................... 43 3.7.1.1. Pilot Study One .......................................................................................... 44 3.7.1.2. Pilot Study Two .......................................................................................... 45 3.7.1.3. Final Interview Protocol ............................................................................. 45 3.7.2. Participant Recruitment ................................................................................... 47 3.7.3. Interview Setting .............................................................................................. 48 3.7.4. Pre-Interview Routine ...................................................................................... 49 3.7.5. Interview Procedure ......................................................................................... 50 3.7.6. Data Handling .................................................................................................. 51 3.7.7. Data Analysis Process ...................................................................................... 52 3.7.8. Validity and Reliability Process ...................................................................... 54 3.7.9. Human Research Protection ............................................................................ 56 3.7.10. Researcher Bias ............................................................................................. 56 3.8. Data Analysis ..............................................................................................................57 3.9. Summary .....................................................................................................................65