Peer Assistance | Mentoring | Coaching

The Coaching News

(March 17, 2003)
ISSN 1708-9026

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TOPICS

1. How to Determine the Validity of a Request to Participate in Coach Research
3. Perform a Check-Up to Ensure Your Coach Listing Accuracy
4. What's New from Coaching Literature

HOW TO DETERMINE THE VALIDITY OF COACHING RESEARCH REQUESTS

As attention to coaching increases, more and more university graduate students will likely consider coaching as a topic for their research papers, theses and dissertations. In most cases this means that coaches as well as coach trainers and coach mentors will be asked to participate in survey research.

An example of this type of request appeared in the Feb. 27 Coach2Coach Newsletter (Coach2Coach@yahoogroups.com). A graduate student from a top tier MBA program was asking for coaches to respond to a survey on executive coaching. Several months ago, a survey supported by the ICF was conducted by students at a graduate school in California and was distributed widely to ICF and other organization members (results of that survey are available on our website).

To complete such surveys usually takes considerable reflection, organizing ideas and writing coherent responses. On the surface such requests appear credible and appeal to a coach's willingness to help. But are these legitimate requests? There is definitely a need for more research on coaching and in most cases I think the intention is clearly legitimate, but I also think it's important to determine the credibility of such requests.

Here are four questions to ask to determine whether it is worth your time to respond to such surveys:

(1) Has this research, survey or project been approved by the university's committee on human subject research? Most universities have such committees to oversee research and ensure such research meets ethical requirements, social responsibility practice, and accepted research method standards. (An example of the type of comprehensive form required by most universities is available on our website.)

(2) Has the student received approval from his or her faculty supervisory committee to conduct such research? Most universities require graduate student research to be guided and supervised by a specific, experienced, and knowledgeable faculty member or group of faculty members. Students typically have to convince this group of the importance of such research, their ability to ensure the safety and confidentiality of the data, and their ability to analyze the results.

(3) Has the student conducted a thorough search of existing literature and created the current survey in order make a unique contribution to what is currently known? Too often students have a wonderful idea and they create a survey to check out the idea without knowing that data is already available. Professionals responding to survey requests should be informed about details regarding why the research is important, how it might be used and what anticipated impact it will have on the field.

(4) How will the results of the survey or research project be disseminated? Participants in research projects have a right to know the results of the data collected. Some research projects, particularly those that use appreciative inquiry or other qualitative methods even include participant reactions to the data as part of their overall design. Unfortunately, the results for quantitative data requests often never make it back to the participants who took the time and care to assist the researcher. Details about receiving the results should be included with the initial request to participate.

While these four questions are primarily directed towards university-based researchers, similar concerns apply to private companies and even professional associations conducting surveys of their members, the public or other corporations. These four questions are not meant to prohibit or limit research into coaching. However, they can prevent coaches from being exploited by well-intentioned, but poorly prepared researchers.

PERFORM A CHECK-UP FOR COACH LISTING ACCURACY

Your coaching services are listed on our website at www.peer.ca/coaching.html. But when was the last time you checked to determine that the information provided reflects your current perspective, service and contact information? There is no charge for your listing, and all you need to do is review your current listing and send us any changes you want to make. We process all changes in our office and usually have the results up on the Internet within one business day. We want to make sure that visitors can locate an appropriate coach, and we rely on you to update your listing.

WHAT'S NEW FROM COACHING LITERATURE

Peer Resources continually scans the professional and popular published literature to find articles of interest to coaches. A recent addition to the searchable, <www.peer.ca/SearchB.html>annotated bibliography includes:

Triad. (October, 2001). Impact evaluation report on the Coaching.com intervention for (client company). Retrieved November 10, 2002, from <www.coaching.com/Marketing/Common/images/ImpactReport.pdf>.

Coaching sessions for sixty-seven staff members including all managers from the executive level to district sales managers were initiated for a five-month period in 2001. A success case methodology showed that the intervention produced significant business results and economic impact. The study authors concluded the total impact to be in the millions of dollars and that the immediate return on investment would be in the 10 to 1 range with the long-term return even higher. The study describes a number of factors contributing to this improvement and makes additional recommendations to further increase the business impact of the coaching intervention. Recommendations included: (1) allow for flexible scheduling of the coaching sessions; (2) ensure managers of participants are fully engaged in supporting the coaching process; (3) provide clear communication about what participants should expect from the process; and (4) provide participants with a clear exit strategy when engaged in the coaching process.(RAC)

The Coaching News is provided to subscribers every 45-60 days by Peer Resources <www.peer.ca/coaching.html>. To become a member of the Peer Resources Network and receive a more comprehensive monthly publication as well as the only print magazine on coaching, visit www.peer.ca/PRN.html or call 1.800.567.3700 in North America or 1.250.595.3503 outside of North America. To be removed from this mailing list send an email to <info@peer.ca>.

All articles and information included in this newsletter have been prepared by Rey Carr and all copyrights are held by Peer Resources. To submit information or articles for possible inclusion in future issues, please send an email to coachingnews@peer.ca.