The SRA Symposium - College of Medicine

Licensure – a mandatory legal requirement for certain professions in order to protect the public
from incompetent practitioners. Licensing procedures are generally established or implemented by
a political governing body that prescribes practice without a license.
According to various authors (Bratton & Hildebrand, 1980; Mason, 1984; Galbraith & Gilley, 1986;
McCue, 2003) certification is a voluntary achieved standard of excellence for an individual practitioner
recognized by a peer group. The focus of this study falls under this category of credentialing
identified in the literature as professional certification.
The Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) was formed in conjunction with the
Society of Research Administrators International (SRA) in 1993 with the primary purpose of certifying
that an individual, through experience and testing, has the fundamental knowledge necessary
to be a professional research or sponsored programs administrator (Research Administrators
Certification Council, 2004). Since the RACC was formed in 1993, 501 research administration
professionals have achieved certification (Research Administrators Certification Council).
This study sought to determine whether those who have attained the Certificate in Research Administration
(CRA) perceive a benefit to their careers and why most research administrators do
not attempt certification. The primary research question studied is concerned with the relationship
between perceived value of the CRA to research administration professionals and demographic
characteristics. Five research questions guided the investigation.
Statement of the Problem
The value of certification in the field of research administration is not known. Research administration
professionals do not know whether certification has benefited the careers of those who
have achieved it, or why most research administrators do not attempt certification. The primary
focus of the study was concerned with the relationship between perceived value of the Certificate
in Research Administration (CRA) to research administration professionals and demographic
characteristics.
Methodology
An Internet-based survey instrument was developed to collect data from certified research administrators
(CRAs) and non-certified research administrators. The survey collected demographic
information to help describe the relationship between the demographic characteristics of the population
and perception of value. A pilot study was conducted to determine the survey instrument’s
work under realistic conditions. The survey instrument was then distributed via an electronic mail
notification and included a link to an Internet site where the survey could be completed online.
Three electronic mail requests followed by personal telephone calls to those who did not respond
to the electronic mail requests resulted in a return of 230 usable surveys or an 83% rate of return.
Population and Sample
Papers
The population of respondents for this study included research administrators based in the Southeastern
region of the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA). According
to the NCURA (2005), 1,101 members are based in the Southeastern region.
A list of 501 research administrators who have achieved certification was obtained from the Research
Administrators Certification Council (RACC), and the list revealed that 147 of the research
administrators who have achieved certification are from the Southeastern region of the NCURA.
These 147 individuals were selected to represent half of the overall sample population for this
study. The other half of the sample population was randomly selected from a list of non-certified
members based in the Southeastern region.
2005 Symposium Proceedings Book 223