Perceptions of Faculty Members Regarding Obsolescence Issues at a Turkish State University

Yıl 2010, Cilt: 5 Sayı: 1 - Cilt 5, Sayı 1, 2010, 5 - 13, 19.05.2016

H. Ferhan Odabaşı İşıl Kabakçı Yavuz Akbulut

Öz

The current study was carried out at a Turkish state university with a population of 262 fulltime faculty members to investigate the obsolescence issues. The framework is mainly based on Kaufman’s (1974) Direct Effects Model of Obsolescence using a 24-item survey, which questioned how frequent faculty faced obsolescence related with individual characteristics, work environment, organizational climate and whether these factors were related to faculty members’ gender, age, academic rank and work area. The results suggest that the faculty felt almost no obsolescence regarding these areas which gives hope for the future activities of the institution. Although participant responses did not vary with regard to gender, age and academic title; significant differences among the fields of study were found suggesting that faculty members at Health Sciences were surpassing all other fields, particularly the fields of Science and Social Sciences refuting a recent study. Implications and suggestions for faculty development endeavors were provided

Anahtar Kelimeler

Professional obsolescence, organizational climate, faculty development, change readiness

Kaynakça

• Akbulut, Y., Kuzu, A., Latchem, C., & Odabasi, H. F. (2007). Change readiness among teaching staff at Anadolu University, Turkey. Distance Education, 28(3), 335-350.
• Camblin, J. L. D., & Steger, J. A. (2000). Rethinking faculty development. Higher Education, 39, 1-18.
• Fattahi, B. (2003). Uninterrupted education: the vital role of SPE’s continuing education in professional development. JPT Online, January. Retrieved January 29, 2003 from, http://www.spe.org/spe/cda/views
• Kabakci, I., & Odabasi, H. F. (2008). The organization of the faculty development programs for research assistants: The case of education faculties in Turkey. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 7 (3), 56-63.
• Kaufman, H. G. (1974). Obsolescence and professional career development. New York: Amacom.
• Knight, P. (1998). Professional obsolescence and continuing professional development in higher education. IETI, 35, 248-256.
• Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. V. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30, 607-610.
• Millis, J. B. (1994). Faculty development in the 1990s: what it is and why we can't wait. Journal of Counseling and Development, 72 (5), 454-465.
• Odabasi, H. F. (2003). Faculty point of view on faculty development. Hacettepe University Journal of Education, 24, 86-89.
• Pazy, A. (1996). Concept and career stage differentiation in obsolescence research, Journal of Organizational Behaviour, 17, 59-78.
• Robinson, D. W. (2006). Reframing higher education within the California State University: The faculty's readiness to embrace change. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis. The Claremont Graduate University, AAT 3197904.
• Rouseff-Baker, F. (2002). Leading change through faculty development. New Directions for Community Colleges, 120, 35-42.
• Shearer, R. L., & Steger, A. (1975). Manpower obsolescence: A new definition and empirical investigation of personal variables. Academy Management Review, 1, 23-35.
• Sorcinelli, M. D. (2007). Faculty development: the challenge going forward. Peer Review: Association of American Colleges and Universities, 9 (4), 4-8.
• Stigmar, M. (2008). Faculty development through an educational action programme. Higher Education Research & Development, 27 (2). 107–120.
• Sunal, D. W., Hodges, J., Sunal, C. S., Whitaker, K. W., Freeman, L. M., Edwards, L., Johnston, R. A., & Odell, M. (2001). Teaching science in higher education: faculty professional development and barriers to change. School Science and Mathematics, 101 (5), 246-57.
• Symth, J. (1995) (Ed.) Academic work: the changing labor process in higher education. Buckingham: Society for Research in Higher Education and Open University Press.
• Trimmer, K. J., Blanton, E. J., & Schambach, T. (1998). An evaluation of factors affecting professional obsolescence of information technology professionals. IEEE. Proceedings of 31st Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, pp. 406-414.