The Effects of Professional Commitment on Practitioner Evaluations of Curriculum Competencies: A Preliminary Investigation

Authors

  • Kenneth E. Mobily
  • Richard D. MacNeil
  • Michael L. Teague

Keywords:

professional commitment, curriculum, certification, accreditation, competencies

Abstract

The purpose of ,the study was to discern the effects of professional commitment on practitioners) evaluations of competency standards for therapeutic recreation. Professional commitment was measured by simply counting the number of professional behaviors and attributes reported by each practitioner. Fifty-four competency statements, taken verbatim from certification and accreditation guidelines, were rated by the respondents. Findings revealed that the perceived relevance of competency standards was significantly affected by professional commitment. Thus) when seeking practitioners' input into curriculum matters, curriculum coordinators need to consider the effects of professional vitality and commitment. Due to the limited sampling frame of this study, however, the professional commitment variable awaits verification with a larger, more representative sample of therapeutic recreators.

Issue

Section

Research Papers