Research Areas
The Centre has ongoing research interests in a number of areas, relating to theory, policy and practice. Staff members' interests include:
Workplace Transitions
The Centre has conducted several projects looking at the experience of clinicians moving from one environment to another – whether from undergraduate to postgraduate training, or from other countries to the UK. Some projects have looked at how curricula and training programmes prepare clinicians for these transitions, while others have considered the experiences of trainees at these times.
Regulation and Revalidation
Staff have been involved in projects relating to the regulation of healthcare professionals for several years, most recently in work relating to the processes for revalidation of doctors, introduced in December 2012.
Professionalism
Professionalism is a topic of great interest in medical and other healthcare professions, but one which is still ill-defined and understood. Work in the Centre is concerned both with the definition and measurement of professionalism, and how it may be utilised in assessment.
Workplace Culture and Bullying
Clinical education and practice take place in organisational and workplace cultures, some of which can be positive, but some of which can be negative and erect barriers. The Centre has carried out work looking at the phenomenon of workplace bullying, which may be seen as one of the most negative consequences of a workplace culture, as well as other work.
Selection and Assessment
The effective selection of students and trainees is essential for a high quality clinical workforce, as is the validity and reliability of the assessments that allow them to qualify and advance. The Centre has been involved in many projects relating to the selection of medical students and trainees, and academic and workplace-based assessments.
Working Patterns
Working patterns Clinicians work in different ways, governed by service demands, training programme requirements, and legislation. Several projects have considered the perceptions and effects of different working patterns.






