Clinical Research Administration Embracing the Scholar-Practitioner (SP) Essay

Clinical Research Administration

Embracing the scholar-practitioner (SP) model in clinical research represents a critical responsibility to improve, to inform, and to inspire the lives of others: improve through scholarly research, inform through practical application, and inspire through leadership. During the semester, awareness was heightened as to the importance of scholarly writing, theory implementation, and leadership influence. Being charged with such responsibilities is not for the faint of heart. Becoming independent scholars and critical thinkers who are ready to forge ahead in making valuable contributions to one's fields of expertise requires a great deal of dedication, tenacity, and vision to cultivate a new body of knowledge (Dietzmann, 2005). To become successful, one will need to engage in scholarly writing, which is the basis for the SP model. Without academic integrity, effective writing skills, and synergistic teamwork communicating new knowledge and influencing implementation will not be possible in clinical research.

Academic Integrity

Demonstrating responsible academic behavior is critical to uphold scholarly standards in high-quality research work, academic integrity & honesty, and adherence to ethical guidelines. Clinical researchers are stewards of their learning, while embracing collaborative efforts with colleagues and mentors. Showing care, concern, and professionalism will improve communication, which builds trust for mutually beneficial relationships and professional learning communities (PLCs). Hence, shared values of the clinical research community are to uphold scholarly standards through information literacy, thus building new knowledge.

Becoming an effective scholar requires the assistance of a mentor and a team to provide the guidance needed for success. As a clinical researcher, receiving guidance via constructive feedback will improve knowledge and contribution to the research field in which research and formation experiences are paramount for the development of scholars and for new knowledge communities.More importantly, clinical researchers should perpetuate life-long learning through scholarship efforts. Such scholarship efforts benefit personal information literacy, thus affecting the information literacy of constituents, such as Walden and the PLCs.

Scholarly Writing

The purpose of scholarly writing is to communicate original work with a unique perspective through research and analysis. Writing is formal and includes cited sources to support a position or argument. Authors are field experts who create insights for a specialized audience; however, insights must be grounded in research and analysis rather than personal experience or opinion. Therefore, a scholarly piece is written to enhance or to create a body of knowledge (Dietzmann, 2005).

Scholar writing components include the following (Paquette, 2009):

Third person perspective

Clear argument/position

Research to support argument/position

Formal writing conventions and principles

Critical analysis of argument/position

Peer reviewed for publications

Ethical standards of practice (Remenyi, 1998)

Aforementioned components play a critical role in achieving the purpose of scholarly writing. Through conducted research, thesis is deemed valid and credible by the academic community. According to Remenyi (1998), research must be accompanied with trust when collecting evidence, processing evidence, and using its findings. A fine line exists between upholding integrity and breaching areas of trust. To be charged with the task of scholarly writing is quite an honor; however, to ensure accurate and acceptable research to add to the body of knowledge is no small feat.

The pressure to perform in the scholarly community may play a part in unacceptable scholarly writing. According to Hatcher (2011), writers face a myriad of complex and ambiguous morally sensitive decisions and dilemmas. The decisions they make may have a negative effect on….....