An Analysis of the Factors that Influence Faculty Professional Development in Agricultural Faculties

Sadeghi, Fatollah; Hoseini, S. Mahmood; Rezvanfar, Ahmad; Sharifzadeh, Abolghasem; Moridsadat, Pegah

An Analysis of the Factors that Influence Faculty Professional Development in Agricultural Faculties

Authors

Fatollah Sadeghi

S. Mahmood Hoseini

Ahmad Rezvanfar

Abolghasem Sharifzadeh

Pegah Moridsadat

Abstract

This research was done with the aim of analyzing the factors that influence the professional development of Agricultural faculty members. Methodologically, this explanatory research was carried out through survey method. The population of the research consisted of agricultural faculty members of Iran Universities (N=1190). Using Random Stratified Sampling Method, 120 faculty members were selected. A questionnaire was developed by the researcher as the tool for gathering data. Validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a group of agricultural faculty members and researchers. Calculated coefficient of Cronbach's Alpha (0.95) was considered as reliability appropriateness of the questionnaire. Using SPSS: WIN software, factors influencing faculty professional development were analyzed. Using explanatory factor analysis technique, five principal components were extracted. In total, the extracted factors explained %74.4 of the variance, namely: psychological factors (%18.48), management factors (%17.72), sociocultural factors (%14.19), institutional factors (%12.71), and finally supporting system factors (%11.26).

Keywords

Agricultural Higher Education

Analysis

factor analysis

Faculty Members

professional development