CHCS Perspectives Summer/Fall 2013

PERSPECTIVES • SUMMER-FALL 2013 – Page 45 W here does the time go? Most of us have asked this ques- tion throughout our busy days. We wonder about the time we have wasted sitting in traffic or standing in lines. e wonder if we are using our time as efficiently as we might like. Faculty members wonder about setting priorities among teaching, research, service, and administrative activities. The Physical Therapy Department at NSU offers two entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) programs. The program in Fort Lauderdale has been in existence since 1994 and is a traditional classroom-based program. A combination of traditional face-to- face instruction, interactive learning, and clinical lab skill training is used to deliver the curriculum. A newer hybrid program is now offered in Tampa. This curriculum is delivered using a blend of on- line learning and face-to-face instruction at the Tampa Campus four days a month. Both programs contain required clinical edu- cation experiences. Although the distribution of courses varies, the curriculum is es- sentially the same, so the faculty members in both programs teach very similar content. The way content is delivered, however, is very different between the two programs. We wondered about the dif- ferences between the programs in terms of how faculty members spend their time. There appeared to be an opportunity to take ad- vantage of this natural experiment. How could we get answers to questions about time spent at work? For years, work-sampling methods have been used in human factors and organization research to investigate such questions. These methods provide an estimate of the percentage of time spent doing predefined tasks and activities. Observations, or snapshots in time , are recorded using a predefined framework of work tasks, activities, and tools. In work-sampling research, the important first step is to develop a taxonomy of the work—categories of key tasks, activities, and tools that describe the essential elements of the job being studied, which in this case was work as a faculty member in an entry-level physical therapy program. Tasks can be thought of as the steps or activities performed by a worker to accomplish specific objectives. For faculty members, job tasks usually pertain to the areas of teach- ing, research, and service. Activities are the actions taken to achieve work goals associated with a task. For example, activities associated with teaching may include delivering content to stu- dents, grading examinations or assignments, and responding to stu- dent email. For research , activities may include writing of grants or articles or conducting actual research. Service may include par- ticipation in department/college committees or performing health screens in the community. In addition to tasks and activities, other categories for a taxon- omy provide a more comprehensive overview of the work, result- ing in a richer description. Categories might describe how work is being done (e.g., online, face-to-face); where is it being done (e.g., classroom, office, off-campus); with whom is it being done (e.g., students, other faculty members, tech support); and what tools are being used (e.g., computer, telephone). Once a taxon- omy has been developed, decisions are made about data collec- tion. Random observations are used, and large numbers are needed in order to accurately estimate the frequencies of specific tasks and activities. This type of research was first done using paper-and-pencil methods. Elements of the taxonomy were listed on an Excel spread- sheet, and observations were manually checked at predefined data collection points. Next, personal digital assistants (PDAs) were used to collect information, and the data points were uploaded to a com- puter for storage and analysis. Now, there are tablets that can be used to conduct work-sampling research. Software and applications can be developed for use, with the benefits of minimizing error and improving compliance. The research team in Tampa decided to take advantage of iPad technology and contracted with a developer to design an applica- tion that could be used for this research. The taxonomy was shared WHERE DOES THE TIME GO? Dr. Kathy Rockefeller, Sc.D., Associate Professor and Research Coordinator Continued on page 46...