Dr. Rebecca Laudicina Plays Key Role in ASCLS Task Force Research

A link to a 3-part online survey was sent by electronic mail to 7,572 ASCLS members and 500 CLS educational program directors. Survey items included quantitative and qualitative measures of professionals’ engagement in research and other scholarly activities, perceptions about research importance, educational preparation for conducting research, and descriptions of program curricula in research.

The task concluded that CLS professionals participate in research in limited numbers and are more likely to engage in non-research types of scholarly activities. Numerous barriers were identified which impose limits to conducting research, and over half of CLS’s research efforts lack external funding. The formal educational background of many CLS professionals, especially those at the baccalaureate level, may leave them unprepared or underprepared for conducting research. The results of this study are very likely to prove useful as, up to this point, the CLS professional literature had been limited to studies of the research productivity of university faculty which resulted in a somewhat narrow perspective. If you would like further information or details relating to this study, please contract Dr. Laudicina at rebecca_laudicina@med.unc.edu.